HC Deb 23 October 1973 vol 861 cc1002-3

Queen's Recommendation having been signified—

4.51 p.m.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)

I beg to move, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to provide for the reclamation from the sea of certain land for the establishment of an airport and a seaport in southeast Essex, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of grants for or towards:—

  1. (a) the provision of installations for facilitating the use of a navigable channel in Havengore Creek; and
  2. (b) the reduction, by conversion of vessels navigating Havengore Creek, of the clearance above water level required by them.
The House had a substantial debate on the Money Resolution appertaining to the Bill when it was previously before the House. That resolution covered the major expenditure of the Maplin Development Authority—namely, its reclamation work, its research and design work and the major points of compensation which are provided for in the Bill. For most practical purposes, of course, hardly any of that expenditure can now take place until the report has been made to the House, until my right hon. Friend has made an order and until Parliament has agreed that the work of reclamation shall commence.

The present Money Resolution is a much more modest and technical matter. It arises because the Lords Amendment to Clause 10 is aimed at assisting those Members of the Select Committee and the sailors of Essex who wish to facilitate their continued use of Havengore Creek when it is crossed by the access links to, Maplin. The grants covered by the resolution are of two kinds. The first kind of grant is to boat owners so that they can convert their boats by installing, for example, arrangements for lowering their masts. Secondly, the resolution provides for grants to the Maplin Development Authority for the purpose of providing facilities to make navigation of the new Havengore Creek a practical proposition for small boats. That will be done, for example, by providing moorings or slipways at either end of the passage under the bridges. I envisage that in both cases grants would be up to 100 per cent. on reasonable expenditure. The total sum involved will not be large and, of course, will be subject to strict Treasury control.

Question put and agreed to.