§ Sir C. RAWSONasked the Prime Minister whether, considering that the latest scheme for a new Charing Cross bridge, approved by the London County Council on 31st July, 1928, differs substantially from and is more expensive than that contemplated when he made a statement to the House on 16th March, 1927, he will afford an opportunity for further discussion in the House before the country is committed to this expenditure, particularly in view of the detailed criticism of the scheme which has been circulated to every Member of this House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe statement which I made in March, 1927, related to proposals of the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic in London. Since that date the Committee of Engineers have reported on the engineering details and on the cost of the combined road and railway bridge at Charing Cross suggested by the Royal Commission. The report of the engineers was to the effect that a bridge of this character at Charing Cross would prove to be more costly than the Commission estimated, and suggested an alternative scheme which, in their opinion, would be less costly and generally more advantageous to traffic. A scheme on the lines recommended by the engineers, involving the removal of Charing Cross 49W station to the south side of the river, is now under discussion with the London County Council and the Southern Railway. The Minister of Transport will no doubt make a statement to the House on the subject so soon as he is in a position to do so, but the investigation of a proposal of this magnitude and complexity must necessarily take some time.