§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the London County Council proposes to apply to Parliament in the session of 1909 for authority to reconstruct for electric traction the tramways from the Lord Howick public-house via Albion Road and George Street to Chapel Street, Woolwich; whether he will co-operate with the council in widening, where necessary, the portion of the route outside the royal dockyard by adding to the public way the narrow strip of the dockyard needed for such an improvement, in order that the necessary paving, etc., work may be put in hand 849 at an early date with a view to providing suitable employment for a number of persons, and in order that the reconstruction of the tramway, if and when sanctioned by Parliament, may be undertaken without delay; and whether, if satisfactory arrangements be made with the council, the work will be put in hand by the Government without delay.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The War Department is prepared to grant the strip of land in question for the purposes of widening the road provided suitable terms can be arranged with the London County Council. It is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in arriving at the terms. Every endeavour will be made to facilitate the progress of the work, but it must be remembered that, before the existing wall can be demolished, the new wall must at least in part be completed for the protection of the arsenal.