HC Deb 02 August 1978 vol 955 cc741-3
14. Mr. Cockcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans for the reorganisation of the ports.

29. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans for reorganisation of the ports.

Mr. William Rodgers

None in this Session.

Mr. Cockcroft

Will the Secretary of State give the House some information concerning the nationalisation proposals in the context of the reorganisation of the ports?

Mr. Rodgers

I do not know what proposals the hon. Gentleman has in mind. If he cares to write to me, I shall do my best to reply.

Mr. Moate

May we have a straight and honest answer from the Secretary of State? This is a serious matter for the country. Is the Labour Party committed to the nationalisation of the ports? If so, what advantages can possibly accrue from it to the nation?

Mr. Rodgers

In reply to the Question I said that we had no plans in this Session. If the hon. Gentleman thinks that we should pursue the matter in a different way, there is not much time left. I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that 90 per cent. of trade is at present carried through ports which belong to the British Transport Docks Board, trust ports or municipal ports. A large proportion of the tirade in this country is already carried through ports which in one way or another are publicly owned.

Mr. Loyden

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one step towards achieving the reorganisation of the ports would have been the dock labour scheme that Conservative Members voted down during this Session? Therefore, is it not rather hypocritical for Conservative Members to raise this question about the reorganisation of the ports when they have damaged every effort made by the Government to achieve that object?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend makes an important point. That measure would have contributed substantially to easing some of the real problems of adjustment in our ports.

Mr. Fry

Surely the Secretary of State should give a straight reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate). Will the Government state categorically—after all, they are making promises in many other directions—even to satisfy the Labour left, what their intentions are in relation to those ports at present outside the nationalised sector?

Mr. Rodgers

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman does not understand the constitutional relationship between the Government and the Labour Party when it comes to elections. The nationalisation of the ports was part of our last manifesto. That is plain. There is no proposal to nationalise the ports in this Session. The manifesto has not been written, and I am playing no part in writing it. Therefore, although I might wish to forecast the future, I cannot.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. David Hunt.

Mr. David Hunt

Is the Minister considering—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Question No. 15.

Mr. Hunt

I cannot separate myself on a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to ask a supplementary question, with your leave, on Question No. 14.

Mr. Speaker

No. We have passed that now. It is No. 15.