§ 19. Mr. Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following on the recent report of the Council of Wales on the South Wales ports, he will make a personal visit to Cardiff docks when he next visits South Wales.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI cannot promise to visit Cardiff docks on my next visit to South Wales, but I can assure the hon. Member that I shall be glad to do so as soon as possible.
§ Mr. CallaghanMay I thank the right hon. and gallant Gentleman and say that 749 he will get a very warm welcome—[Laughter.]—not a hot one. Is he aware that, unless there is some drastic change in the situation, he is likely to find unemployed dockers and empty berths? Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman bring with him some proposals, arising from the report, about how we can get work into the South Wales ports?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI do not think that I can add anything to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation said to the hon. Gentleman on 6th June. I can assure him that I have the interest of this port very much at heart, and I realise that a complete change has taken place.
§ Mr. GowerIf my right hon. and gallant Friend should decide on such a visit, will be bear in mind that, just before the First World War, Barry was the greatest coal exporting port in the world and has suffered most from the decline in coal shipping? Will he also visit Barry?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI shall be glad to visit Barry also, but if my hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) will take the trouble to read the report, they will discover that the ports of Newport, Cardiff, Barry, Port Talbot and Penarth are also concerned.