§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Transport what is the present position of the negotiations between his Department, the London County Council, and the Southern Railway Company regarding the proposed new Charing Cross bridge?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNegotiations are still proceeding, but owing to the magnitude and complexity of the proposals the negotiations must necessarily be prolonged. I am afraid I shall not be in a position to make any statement on the subject in the near future.
§ Sir W. BULLasked the Minister of Transport, having regard to the recent decision of the Corporation of London to apply to Parliament for an extension of time for the construction of St. Paul's Bridge, whether he is prepared to support the recommendations of the Royal Commission appointed last year, which decided that the bridge should not be built?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo official communication has been received from the City Corporation on the subject of the most suitable alternative to the St. Paul's Bridge scheme for which the Corporation first obtained Parliamentary powers in 1911. The existing Parliamentary sanction expires in April, 1929, and I understand from reports in the Press that the Corporation propose to apply to Parliament for an extension of these powers for a further period of two years706W from that date. Parliament will have an opportunity in due course of deciding on the merits of the application.