§ 19. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has considered the reports, copies of which have been sent to him, concerning the comparative times taken to handle cargoes in London, Rotterdam and Hamburg; and what plans there are for making English methods more efficient.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have seen the letter to The Times which my hon. and gallant Friend has been good enough to send me, and will reply to him on the particular case when inquiries which I am making have been completed.
On the general questions also raised in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question, the Ports Efficiency Committee is at present considering delays to road vehicles in ports and, as the House will know, my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has recently set up an inquiry into the working of the Dock Labour Scheme.
§ Captain PilkingtonWhile I appreciate some of the things which my right hon. Friend has, I know, done, may I ask whether he does not agree that it would be deplorable if London's speed and efficiency were inferior to that in some of the Continental ports?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI agree that the efficiency of the Port of London and of our other major ports is a matter of great importance to our whole national economy.