§ 11. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a further statement on the steps which are being taken to improve the facilities in our ports by widening and deepening the entrances for this purpose.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThis matter is the direct responsibility of the port authorities. Many important deepening and widening works are at present being undertaken or are planned, including, in particular, works in the Mersey, the Clyde, and at Sunderland and Southampton.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that the construction of shipping is outstripping the construction of ports; that the ports which we have were made to accommodate ships that were constructed forty years ago and that now we have ships on t he stocks that cannot be accommodated in any port in this country? Would he hold an inquiry into the position in oar ports?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI think that the hon. Gentleman is not quite right in saying that the construction of ships—by which. I think, he means the tonnage and size of ships—is outstripping the capacity of the ports. Perhaps I could send him a list of some of the works that are now going on—it is far too long to read it at Question time—which will show him that a great deal of work is being done to prepare for the larger ships.