HC Deb 08 March 1973 vol 852 c583
26. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what answer he has sent to the letter from the Port of Tyne asking for further time to be granted to enable it to deal with its responsibilities for the new Fish Quay at North Shields.

Mrs. Fenner

The Port of Tyne Authority was informed in an interim reply of 7th February that there would have to be consultations about its request, for an extension of the time limits associated with the offer of grant at a temporarily increased rate, but asked to continue with preparatory work. My right hon. Friend will reach a decision as soon as possible, but he may first need a better estimate of the likely cost to public funds than is yet available.

Dame Irene Ward

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Have the consultations started yet? Has it been impressed on the Port of Tyne that it must get a move on to try to meet the target dates set by my right hon. Friend the Minister responsible for the fisheries industry?

Mrs. Fenner

My right hon. Friend will be announcing the decision as soon as possible, and will make a point of writing to my hon. Friend. The Port of Tyne Authority is discussing a scheme costing at least £2½ million, and if we are to keep the door open we must have some idea how much of that is likely to be found locally. We have shown our awareness of the importance of the matter by allowing a grant of 60 per cent. on the exploratory works.

Mr. Speaker

I suspend the sitting until 3.15 p.m.

Sitting suspended at five minutes past Three o'clock and resumed at a quarter-past Three o'clock.