§ 8. Mr. McBrideasked the Secretary of State for Wales what inquiries he has had as to the present and future potential of the South Wales ports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNone, Sir. The five South Wales ports are currently operating profitably and I have every confidence that their future potential will be exploited to the best advantage.
§ Mr. McBrideDoes that Answer not show the bungling incompetence and lack of liaison between Ministers of the Crown? May I ask whether the Secretary of State for the Environment did not defer to the Secretary of State's opinion prior to sanctioning the Bristol West Dock Development Scheme? Is this not incomprehensible in view of the figures available for Swansea itself, where the tonnage through the port in four years has increased from 6 million to over 8 million at the end of last year, and is the Secretary of State for Wales not a till small voice in the Cabinet, whereas in the country he is a strident factor in the Tory Party?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI do not know why the hon. Gentleman is so gloomy. The South Wales ports have had their best year since 1954. I have no reason to doubt the ability of the South Wales Docks to withstand competition from wherever it comes.
§ Mr. GowerIn view of the long, creditable and sustained efforts of these ports to build up alternative cargoes following the decline in coal shipments, will the Secretary of State give every help and 1226 encouragement to the British Transport Dock Board to extend and improve the facilities and equipment at these ports?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasYes, certainly. The port director and his staff, all of whom I have met, have shown themselves to be fully alive to all the possibilities of encouraging increased usage in the ports, and I have no doubt that the ports have a good future.
§ Mr. Roy HughesWill the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the Government's action in authorising the port of Bristol's major expansion scheme has placed all the South Wales ports in jeopardy? Will he appreciate that all this empty talk of competition means nothing since we are only a tiny island and there is plenty of competition for our ports from the Rotterdams of this world?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasTo say that it places all the South Wales ports in jeopardy is quite wrong. The best judge is the British Transport Port Board, which does not appear to be unduly worried about the prospects of competition.
§ Mr. McBrideOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.