MR. W. F. D.SMITH (Strand, Westminster)To ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state the present condition of the Goktiek Railway Bridge in Upper Burma, and by what firm was the bridge constructed; whether at the time when the bridge was being built representations were made by the Acting Chief Engineer for Construction to the effect that unsound work was being put in by the contractors; and whether he is ready to appoint a Committee to inquire into the whole matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Gokteik Railway Bridge was constructed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company for the Burma Railways Company. When the bridge was being built representations were made by the Acting Chief Engineer for Construction to the effect that unsound work was being put 1476 in by the contractors, but these representations were not confirmed on subsequent inquiry by the Burma Railway Company's engineers or the Government inspector. I am informed by the company that there is no reason for supposing the present condition of the bridge to be unsound, and that a report which they received on it in 1901 was to the effect that it was in all respects a good piece of work.