§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works in August 1882, on the subject of communications between the North and South of the Thames below London Bridge; and to the statement that the district for four miles East of London Bridge represents the trade and commerce of London, that it is inhabited by two-fifths of the entire population of London, a greater number than the combined population of Liverpool, Manchester, Salford, and Birmingham, and that while for the accommodation of the three-fifths of the population of London living West of London 1502 Bridge there are twelve road bridges and one foot bridge, in the district which represents the trade and commerce of London, and contains two-fifths of the population of London, all vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the North and South is completely severed by the river for a distance of four miles East of London Bridge; and to his recommendation of the formation of three crossings; and, what steps the Metropolitan Board of Works have taken, or propose to take, to carry out the recommendation of their engineer, and provide the communications to which he declares the East end of London to be entitled?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGSir, it has been part of my duty to make myself acquainted with the Report referred to by my hon. Friend; and, as regards the latter part of the Question, I beg to state that the Board, on Friday last, decided conditionally to proceed to obtain powers in the next Session to form communications across the Thames East of London Bridge; and the precise nature of the communications is under consideration by a committee.
§ MR. RITCHIEWhen the hon. and gallant Gentleman says that the Board has "decided conditionally," are we to understand that the proposal which it is intended to present to Parliament is conditional upon any particular mode of raising the money necessary for carrying out the works?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGsaid, he would like the hon. Member to give Notice of that Question.
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid, he would do so, and would also call attention to this subject on the third reading of the Metropolitan Board of Works (Money) Bill.