§ 15. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from individuals or organisations in Scotland concerning the establishment of a Scottish Ports Authority.
§ Mr. RossI have had representations from the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and have had discussions with the Chairman of the Clyde and Forth port authorities.
§ Mr. YoungerIs the Secretary of State aware that he is out of step with virtually every organ of opinion throughout the whole of Scotland on this issue?
§ Mr. DalyellNo.
§ Mr. YoungerIn what respect does the Secretary of State think that it will help the operation of Scottish ports to have decisions on them taken to a centralised, nationalised body in London?
§ Mr. RossI am not aware that I am out of step with organised opinion in Scotland. I have had probably a little more discussion with people than has the hon. Member. I simply refer him to the answer I gave on 21st January to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) and remind him—I think that he will be aware of this—of the discussions in Committee on the Ports Bill which is presently before Parliament.
§ Mr. RankinIn recollecting the answer given by my right hon. Friend on that occasion, may I ask whether he does not think that recent developments on Clyde-side warrant fresh thinking about the need for a Scottish Ports Authority operating and controlled in Scotland?
§ Mr. RossMy hon. Friend will be aware of my feelings about a Scottish Ports Authority. The question whether it should be isolated and come under the province of the Secretary of State is an entirely different matter. The Bill reconciles the need for unified long-term planning of the ports of the United Kingdom. It should be remembered that we have had imaginative reports dealing with Europe and elsewhere. This is an international matter and is not purely local. The Bill also makes provision for local management and initiative.