§ SIR ROBERT H. INGLISsaid, he wished to put a question to the noble Lord at the head of the Board of Works. Six years ago a Committee of that House unanimously recommended that Westminster Bridge should be pulled down, and that a new bridge should be built upon the site. He desired to inquire—first, what was the present state of the bridge? Secondly, whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any Bill this Session for the purpose of enabling a new bridge to be constructed? Thirdly, whether the new bridge will be built upon the same site, or further up the river? And fourthly, whether it was the intention of the Government to open to competition, limited or otherwise, the design of the new bridge?
§ LOUD JOHN MANNERSsaid, that he had applied to Mr. Walker, the engineer of the bridge, who said that proper persons were appointed to watch it daily. It was almost entirely supported by timber, and he was not aware that there was any more immediate cause of alarm than there was in March last. With respect to the other questions, it was the intention of the Government to introduce a measure for the purpose of erecting a new bridge upon the site of the present, and Government had not as yet decided whether the design should be opened to competition, or that one should be selected from those already sent in. It was the intention to enlarge the space of the roadway of the bridge by means of lateral additions to the present bridge, which would he open to the public while the rest of the new bridge was being constructed.