§ 45. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House as to what decision the Government have reached with regard to the recommendations contained in the Report of the Royal Commission on London, bridges and their approaches?
§ 48. Sir GEORGE HUMEasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state what action the Government propose to take with regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic in London?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)His Majesty's Government have given most careful consideration to the Report of the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic in London, presided over by Lord Lee. I desire, in the first place, to express the appreciation of the Government of the ability and energy displayed by the Commission in their consideration of the difficult and complicated problem referred to them.
I propose in this reply to deal, first, with the recommendations of the Report which are concerned with the central area of London.
His Majesty's Government are prepared to make a grant from the Road Fund to the London County Council of 75 per cent. of the approved cost of reconstructing the existing Waterloo Bridge in the manner recommended by the Commission.
The acceptance of the proposal to preserve Waterloo Bridge involves the provision of further facilities for cross-river traffic at Charing Cross. The Government are, therefore, inviting the London County Council and the Southern Railway Company to join with them in appointing engineers to examine the scheme for the double-decker road and railway bridge put forward by the Commission, and will be prepared to contribute to the scheme if, after examination of its engineering, financial and aesthetic aspects, it appears satisfactory.
As regards the proposed Ludgate Bridge, if the City Corporation decide to proceed with this scheme, the Government are prepared to make a grant on the same basis as the Government had contemplated in the case of the St. Paul's Bridge scheme, namely, 50 per cent. of the net cost of the road approaches.
The Government also agree with the Commission in thinking that the Victoria Dock Road is a scheme of urgent importance, and are prepared to make a grant on the basis of 75 per cent. towards its approved cost.
The other projects recommended by the Lee Commission are of varying degrees 2020 of urgency. The general financial policy of the country renders it impossible, in the view of the Government, to accept the suggestion of the Commission to raise a large loan on the security of the Road Fund. Consequently the rate at which these projects can be carried out must depend upon the allocation which can be made each year from those revenues, due regard being had to the other claims upon the Fund. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have decided to authorise the Ministry of Transport to negotiate with the local authorities concerned on the basis of grants of a suitable percentage towards the execution of the remaining schemes as funds are available, the total expenditure upon all the schemes dealt with in the Report being limited to a sum which, upon the average of a series of years, will not exceed £1,000,000 a year.
The Government consider that these proposals constitute the maximum commitment of public money upon which it is now prudent to embark for this purpose.
It is not intended to adopt the recommendation of the Commission for the constitution of a special traffic authority. The Government are confident that they can rely upon the co-operation of existing local authorities of the Metropolitan area without the intervention of any new body.
The London County Council and the Corporation of the City of London are being informed accordingly.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDo I understand from that, that the other 25 per cent. will be found by the London County Council?
§ The PRIME MINISTER indicated assent.
§ Colonel VAUGHAN-MORGANHave the Government made up their mind for how many years they will be prepared to grant this concession of £1,000,000?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. I think that before that question could be answered accurately, it would be necessary to have a certain amount of consultation with the local authorities—a consultation which is being embarked upon at once.
§ Major CRAWFURDMay I put two questions? The first is, do the Govern- 2021 ment consider that the grant of 60 per cent, of the net cost of road approaches to Ludgate Bridge, which are intended to serve the very congested district to the South of the River, will ensure the undertaking of this work? The second question is, as he has ruled out the idea of a loan on the security of the Road Fund, will he consider, with regard to all these schemes, the question of reimbursement of the cost by means of levying an improvement rate on the enhanced land values created?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first question is, I cannot foretell what the result of consultation will be. I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that as far as the building of bridges is concerned, the City has resources and facilities which the London County Council have not. With regard to the second question, I think the existing financial methods will be sufficient to deal with the problem.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEMay I ask whether the arrangements with regard to Charing Cross bridge rules out the possibility, if this triumvirate is to be established, of the Southern Railway terminus being removed to the Southern side?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think that the Commission reported against that on the ground of expense.
§ Mr. ALBERYHas any decision been come to about the Lower Thames Tunnel with reference to the London traffic?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I could not answer that without notice.