§ 4 and 5. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is aware that in recent years the British Transport Commission (Docks) have granted leases or otherwise disposed of sites to industrialists at Barry Docks involving future commitments by firms and companies for years ahead; and if he will give consideration to this in assessing the recommendations of the Rochdale Committee's Report;
(2) whether he is aware of current development proposals of several industrialists at Barry Docks, some of which 1307 are indicated in recent correspondence to his Department from the Barry Borough Council and the hon. Member for Barry: and what action he intends to take in the light of the recommendations of the Rochdale Committee's Report.
§ Mr. MarplesI will take the considerations my hon. Friend mentions into account in considering the recommendations of the Rochdale Committee about the South Wales ports. We have first to decide in principle on the major recommendations.
§ Mr. GowerIs my right hon. Friend aware that with the encouragement and help of the British Transport Commission many firms have entered into these commitments in recent years? They have thereby expressed their confidence in the future of Barry Docks. Is he also aware that in the last year there has been a most significant increase in dock traffic at Barry which has been promoted by companies engaged in such different activities as oil, fruit importing and grain importing? The confidence has been shared by Lord Robens of the National Coal Board, who has said that he sees a good future for Barry Docks. Will my right hon. Friend therefore prefer the inspired advice of industrialists and of a nationalised industry to the unimaginative proposals of the Rochdale Committee?
§ Mr. MarplesI do not accept the latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. I do not think that the Report of the Rochdale Committee is without imagination. In all this local interests will be fully consulted and what my hon. Friend has recorded in HANSARD will be taken into account.
§ Mr. MellishAs these Questions deal with the Rochdale Committee's Report, may we have an assurance that early in the new year the House will be given an opportunity to debate the whole Report?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is not a question for me, as the hon. Gentleman knows, but I certainly would not dodge the issue on a debate. I personally would be quite delighted to take part in it. I can assure the House in general that no time has been wasted either in setting up the Rochdale Committee, in the Committee 1308 making its Report, or in asking interested parties for their comments. No time will be wasted in the Government making their decision.
§ Mr. GowerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Rochdale Committee hardly visited Barry? It was there only an hour. How on earth can the Committee have formed a balanced assessment of a dock on such a short visit?
§ Mr. MarplesIt is not for me to say how the Committee did it. I shall look very carefully into what the Committee said. If my hon. Friend has any comments or any recommendations to make, I should like to have them so that they can be taken into account before the final decision is made.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that the publication of this Report has had a detrimental effect upon industrialists? Those who wished to come to the ports of South Wales have now deferred their decision. Those who have industries in South Wales ports cannot extend them because they are afraid that something will be done. It is absolutely necessary that the Minister should make a definite statement as to his intentions regarding the Rochdale Report. Will he make a statement as quickly as possible?
§ Mr. MarplesI have already said that I will do that, but quite a number of interested bodies—for example, the National Coal Board, the petroleum industry and the T.U.C.—have not yet made their comments on the Report. It would be most discourteous of me to go ahead and make a Government announcement until I have received their comments and considered them most carefully.