Docks

HC Deb 01 February 1978 vol 943 cc449-50

16. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for nationalising the docks.

Mr. William Rodgers

None in this Session.

Sir A. Meyer

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, despite his disappointing replies today, we rely primarily on him to resist the introduction of a measure that would so clearly be damaging to the national interest and primarily in the interests of one trade union?

Mr. Rodgers

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's remarks were made in kindness, but I must warn him and his hon. Friends that they cannot rely on me for anything.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is still a need for real public ownership of the docks rather than that they should be administered, as some are at present, by private employers? Does he agree that this action and properly negoiated pay and conditions of work are the best ways of ensuring the future efficient functioning of the docks?

Mr. Rodgers

Fortunately, about 80 per cent. of our ports are publicly owned or run by statutory undertakings of one kind or another. I agree that our objective must be to have an efficient ports industry, serving the nation. We have to find the best means of achieving that.

Mr. Luce

I represent a port with a remarkable record in terms of the expansion of trade in the past decade, thanks largely to the dockers and the management in that area. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the sword of Damocles of nationalisation which hangs over the port mars its future? Will he therefore make a fundamental commitment that there will be no threat of nationalisation in future?

Mr. Rodgers

If the sword of Damocles mars the future of the hon. Gentleman's port, it is surprising that it has had such a prosperous recent past—because the thought that the ports might be nationalised is not new. I hope that his port, under whatever ownership, will continue to prosper.

Mr. Walter Johnson

Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a strong case for the nationalisation of the docks on the ground that the British Transport Docks Board has a remarkable record of productivity in recent years, during a time of great difficulty?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The record of the Board is without equal. I am glad to pay tribute to it and, in this way, to public ownership in the ports industry.

Mr. Fry

Will the right hon. Gentleman come clean and admit that Labour's 1976 programme, which contains many proposals for nationalisation and increased State interference, has never been reversed? Can he give any sound reasons for the docks being nationalised?

Mr. Rodgers

I could give the House many sound reasons, but not this afternoon.