§ 15. Lieut.-Commander Maydonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement on the port development plan for Gibraltar.
§ 46. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made on the development of the port at Gibraltar.
§ Mr. HopkinsonSir Eric Millbourn, the Honorary Ports Adviser to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, recently visited Gibraltar, and his Report recommended that an engineering survey should be made as the first step. The detailed report by a consulting engineer has now been received and is being studied in Gibraltar and here.
§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonCan my hon. Friend tell me what the approximate cost of this scheme is likely to be; what proportion of that cost will be borne by the Colony itself, and what proportion by United Kingdom grant?
§ Mr. HopkinsonThe estimate for the scheme varies between £1,250,000 and £1,800,000. The financing of the project will need to be studied so that we can decide what part will be paid for by allocation from the new colonial development and welfare funds, if they receive Parliamentary approval, and it will also depend upon a number of other factors, including the economics of the scheme itself.
§ Mr. JegerWill the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that this matter will be treated as one of urgency, in view of the necessity for maintaining the economic independence of Gibraltar and extending its port facilities to that end?
§ Mr. HopkinsonYes. My right hon. Friend is entirely convinced upon that point.