§ 58. Sir William Davisonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that his predecessor, speaking on behalf of the Government after Waterloo Bridge had been pulled down, renewed the pledge he had given to the House of Commons in the previous year that if the House would allow the London County Council to borrow the money required for rebuilding the bridge instead of providing the cost out of the rates as originally intended, there would be no question of any grant from national funds, seeing that the bridge had been pulled down contrary to the decision of Parliament; and will he therefore say in what circumstances this pledge to Parliament by his predecessor has not been fulfilled?
§ Mr. BurginThe circumstances in which the Government decided to make a grant towards the construction of the new bridge were explained fully in the answer I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Hackney (Mr. H. Morrison) on 22nd December.
§ Sir W. DavisonThe point of my question is, how comes it that the present Minister of Transport agrees to make a grant when his predecessor informed the House that in no circumstances would a grant be made. Relying on this assurance he asked the House to allow the county council to borrow the money required for the new bridge in order that the matter might be disposed of once and for all.
§ Mr. BurginI am aware of that fact, but circumstances have changed. The bridge has been completely demolished and London traffic facilities demand the construction of a new bridge. His Majesty's Government have decided to make a contribution towards the building of the new bridge, and I have no reason to think that the decision does not meet with the approval of the House.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor definitely said that the Ministry would not make any grant—
§ Mr. Speaker rose—