HC Deb 06 November 1884 vol 293 cc1087-9
MR. RITCHE

asked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether the attention ef the Metropolitan Board has been directed to the Special Report from the Select Committee on Metropolitan Board of Works (Thames Crossings) Bill, in which the Committee report that "two crossings are immediately required, and should be sanctioned by Parliament," the one a low level bridge, with openings at Little Tower Hill, and the other a subway at or near Shadwell; and express a hope that the Metropolitan Board of Works would undertake the construction of the subway contemporaneously with the construction of a bridge at Little Tower Hill by the Corporation of London; whether the Engineer to the Board reported, in 1882, recommending the construction of a tunnel at Shadwell; and, whether the Board propose to apply to Parliament in the ensuing Session for the necessary powers to construct the subway as suggested by the Select Committee, and recommended by their Engineer?

SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGG

In reply to my hon. Friend, I beg to inform him that the attention of the Metropolitan Board has been directed to the Report of the Select Committee on the Thames Crossings Bill, and that Report is now before a Committee of the Board. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, the Engineer of the Board did, in 1882, suggest the construction of a tunnel at Shadwell as part of a general scheme of communications, and that scheme would, no doubt, have been submitted to Parliament had the Board been able to obtain from the Government an assurance of the continuance of the Coal and Wine Dues. As regards the last part of the Question, I regret that I am not at present in a position to afford the information asked, as the whole question of Thames communications is still under the consideration of a Committee of the Board.

MR. RITCHIE

asked the Lord Mayor of London, Whether the attention of the Corporation of London has been directed to the Special Report from the Select Committee of the Metropolitan Board of Works (Thames Crossings) Bill, in which the Committee report that "two crossings are immediately required and should be sanctioned by Parliament," the one a low level bridge with openings at Little Tower Hill, and the other a subway at or near Shadwell, and express a hope that the Corporation of London may be induced to undertake the great and useful work of constructing the bridge contemporaneously with the construction of a subway at Shadwell by the Metropolitan Board of Works; and, whether the Corporation of London propose to apply to Parliament in the ensuing Session for the necessary powers to construct such a bridge?

MR. R. N. FOWLER (LORD MAYOR)

In reply to the hon. Member, I have to say that as soon as the Report of the Select Committee on Thames Crossings appeared the Corporation immediately took steps to ascertain how far its recommendations could be complied with. They decided to construct a low-level bridge at Tower Hill, and the notices required before we can obtain the necessary powers will be given in a day or two.