HC Deb 17 May 1961 vol 640 cc1374-5
44. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a list of schemes in the road programme in Wales, costing more than £100,000, which were started in 1960, with the estimated completion date and total cost of each.

Mr. Marples

Yes, Sir. As the list contains detailed information, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Gower

Can my right hon. Friend say how many such schemes there are?

Mr. Marples

Quite a number; I think nine, altogether.

Following is the list—

present four dry docks in this country which can accommodate ships of this size. Two more are expected to be completed this year, and work on yet another is expected to start this summer. This programme should for the time being be adequate.

Mr. Awbery

Is the Minister aware that the construction of our ships is in danger of out-stripping the facilities of our ports? While we know that these tankers can come up to the estuaries and that there is no need for them to enter the harbour, there are times when it will be necessary for these ships to come into the harbour and enter dry dock, and we have not got the facilities for catering for them? Will he do something to hurry up the matter, because it is very urgent to Bristol?

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

Apart from the "Queens", there are no ships of this tonnage and width of beam or over on the United Kingdom register and none under construction here. There are some eight ships of that size in operation and thirteen under construction. All are tankers and are now being built in Japan. They mostly run between the Persian Gulf and Japan, and none has yet discharged at a United Kingdom port.

Mr. Awbery

Does that mean that we we cannot accept these ships in this country because we do not have the facilities at our ports? That is a reflection upon this country and our shipping industry.

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

I cannot agree with that. As I said in my Answer, we have sufficient of these big docks for the time being.