§ 66 and 67. Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport (1) what percentage of the country's trade, in value, was achieved by the ports in the Severn Estuary in each of the last 10 years;
§ (2) what was the investment in each port in the Severn Estuary in the last 10 years, in real value and expressed as a percentage of the total investment in port facilities as a whole in the country.
§ Mr. MarshThis information is not immediately available in the form requested, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. EllisWill my right hon. Friend now accept that there is evidence to suggest that there has not been as much investment in port and harbour facilities in the Severn Estuary as there has been elsewhere, and will he be willing to set up a committee to look into the possibility of development in the Severn Estuary as a whole as it may be that investment here would be very productive from the point of view of the nation as a whole?
§ Mr. MarshI think that it would be better if my hon. Friend were to wait until he has had an opportunity of studying the reply that I am sending him.