HC Deb 04 July 1905 vol 148 cc992-4
MR. JOHN REDMOND

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an arrangement has been come to whereby the sum of about £35,000, part of the sum of £93,000 which was lent for railway development the South of Ireland, and which has since been repaid to the Treasury, will be made available for the creation of a free bridge in Waterford in place of the old toll bridge which now exists in that city, and which is the last of its kind in Great Britain or Ireland.

MR. WALTER LONG

The sum of £93. 000 was a loan made by the Treasury on mortgage of the Waterford, Dungarvan, and Lismore Railway, and was subsequently repaid to the Treasury by the Fishguard Company in respect of the sale of the Treasury interests and in discharge of the principal and interest on the loan. Representations have been made to me by various parties in favour of a Parliamentary grant in aid of railway connection in Cork, as proposed by the Junction Railways Bill now in Committee, and of the bridge at Waterford. I have been in frequent consultation with the Treasury on this matter, and they have decided to waive the objection which was considered to be fatal to a grant in 1901, and to ask Parliament at a convenient opportunity to vote a sum of £93,000 in aid of the two proposals mentioned. It is intended to vote a sum not exceeding £60,000 as a contribution to the cost of the scheme for the junction at Cork provided the Bill now before the Committee receives the approval of Parliament, and subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions which have been communicated to the Chairman of the Committee. The balance of the Vote (£33,000) will be made available for the bridge at Waterford, and I cannot undertake to ask the Treasury to increase the grant on this project to £35,000.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

thanked the right hon. Gentleman for his statement, and asked if it were intended to bring in a Supplementary Estimate this year or to make provision in next year's Estimates. Also would the Treasury take steps to bind its successors in the matter.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

said he did not propose to bring in a Supplementary Estimate this year. As to what was done next year must depend on the circumstances of the time. He was afraid it was not in his power to bind hypothetical successors—possibly the hon. Gentleman himself would be able to exert sufficient influence with them to secure the fulfilment of his desires.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

As long as we have a clear undertaking by both the Irish Office and the Treasury I shall be satisfied.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Our views are embodied in the communications sent to the Chairman of the Committee.

SIR GEORGE BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I hope this will not reduce the Sinking Fund.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)

Is there any Treasury Minute earmarking this particular money for the purpose?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

There is a record of our decision on the subject. There is no power to ear-mark any special fund.