§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, having regard to the very numerous disasters resulting in the loss of life 1973 and property which occurred annually to our shipping on the north east coast of England, Her Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of providing more adequate harbour accommodation in that district than at present exists?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, he could not at present hold out any encouragement to the hon. Baronet to expect that the Government would propose a Vote for additional harbour accommodation on the north-east coast of England. The course which had been pursued of late years had been to encourage local authorities to improve their own harbours by advances out of the Public Works Loan Fund. That course had produced very good results in some cases, and he hoped that it would lead to considerable improvement in our harbour accommodation.