27. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Transport what is causing the delay in shipping goods to Mombasa; and what action is being taken to improve the situation.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe facilities for discharging and clearing cargo at Mombasa are insufficient to handle all the traffic that is now offering for the port, and, to avoid serious congestion and delays to shipping, it has been necessary to introduce a system of phasing the arrival of cargoes.
Extensive developments of the port are planned by the East African Administration, some of which are already in hand and are resulting in increased shipments, but complete removal of the present restrictions will not be possible until the port has been expanded considerably.
Brigadier ClarkeDoes the Minister appreciate that there is at present a delay of eight to nine months, that some goods ordered before Christmas are not yet called forward for shipment, and that 75 1563 per cent. of the shipping space is used by Government and allied Departments?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am not quite sure what the exact proportions are, but I know that all those concerned agreed in February, 1952 that the present system of phasing, though no one likes it, was essential under present circumstances.