asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will postpone the demolition of the Hailing bridge over the Medway, built at the cost of the taxpayer and extensively used by the 9,000 population of the district, until the local authorities can replace it with another structure.

I have now authorised a further postponement of demolition until 1st January, 1946, but unless the local authority concerned is prepared to take over the maintenance from that date it will be necessary to dismantle it.