§ 64. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Transport whether the liability of the Government to the London County Council in respect of the pulling down of Waterloo Bridge and the re-erecting of a new bridge to take six lines of traffic is limited to £770,000, being 60 per cent. of the sum of £1,295,000, the amount of the estimate submitted by the London County Council?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)The offer of the Government's grant is based upon the approximate estimate of £1,300,000 furnished by the London County Council. It will however be understood that in a scheme of this magnitude some margin in estimating is necessary and the actual grant would be calculated on the approved cost.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the Minister of Transport aware that many people are of opinion that the estimate is very much too low and is likely to be exceeded as in the case of other bridges that have been built, and can he assure the House that there will be no substantial increase in the amount of the Government's contribution mentioned in the question?
§ Mr. PYBUSWhile I am not prepared to bind myself as to what increase would cause me to regard this as a new situation, I can say that from my own experience of civil engineering contracts 10 to 15 per cent. up or down might be allowed for exceptional circumstances.