§ 11. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken regarding port facilities for tankers of one million tons deadweight.
§ Mr. PeytonThe National Ports Council said in its annual report for 1969 that facilities could be provided without unreasonable expense if the need arose.
§ Mr. DouglasIf ships are to be developed to that size, will the right hon. Gentleman explain why we should spend millions of pounds of public money developing port facilities at Maplin and an adjacent airport, including expenditure by the country of millions of pounds on dredging, when we have facilities in Scotland that do not need dredging to cater for that type of vessel?
§ Mr. PeytonI am very conscious of the potential in Scotland, to which the hon. Gentleman has properly drawn attention, but I do not think that that should necessarily prejudice or render unnecessary the development of Maplin.
§ Mr. WilkinsonWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the great environmental dangers of allowing super-tankers through the Channel to discharge at Maplin? Will he use to the full the deep-water facilities existing on the west coast of the British Isles?
§ Mr. PeytonThe answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's question is 1287 that I certainly wish to see the deep-water facilities on the west coast used to the full. The first part of his question is really one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.