HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 cc446-8
10. Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to meet the chairman of the Port of London Authority.

22. Mr. Waddington

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to meet the chairman of the Port of London Authority.

Mr. William Rodgers

Within the next few weeks.

Mr. Temple-Morris

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Port of London has been in trouble for some considerable time, and that eventually—in May 1978—the chairman said that the authority was on the verge of bankruptcy? Yet only one year later it is about to announce a loss of no less than £17 million before Government subsidies are taken into consideration. While accepting that there are problems such as demanning, what the authority, the House and the country want to know is the Government's long-term plan for London docks. They cry out to know. At this stage, can the Secretary of State tell us what is the Government's plan?

Mr. Rodgers

The hon. Gentleman puts his question very fairly, but he minimises the role of the PLA itself under the chairmanship of Sir John Cuckney. I announced last summer some measures which I think are justified on the merits, and I remain in close contact with the board about any further steps which need to be taken. I agree that there is a problem, but it is a social and human as well as industrial one. In those circumstances, the best solution will be found if we take a certain amount of time.

Mr. Waddington

What progress is being made on the plan to reduce the work force by 1,489 by June?

Mr. Rodgers

Very good progress. At present, the PLA is broadly on target. I think that there is a full realisation by all those who work in the Port of London that there must be changes in manpower to achieve viability, and viability remains the aim.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

I thank my right hon. Friend for the kind remarks that he made about dealing with the environmental and human problems. Will he bear in mind, as I am sure he will, that these people lived in the worst bombed area of the country during the war, that they have suffered enormously both during and since and that there is now a great problem in the area with regard to environmental, employment and other matters? This is becoming a derelict area. Will he please not cut out jobs just for the sake of cutting them out, especially when the lawyers ask for it, because they can pick and choose their own jobs and their own fees? I can assure him that the people in that area will not accept the loss of their jobs without causing a lot of trouble.

Mr. Rodgers

I am sure that my hon. Friend is right when he says that those who do not know docklands do not fully appreciate the real problems that are faced in the light of the remarkably sharp decline that there has been. This is true not only of London but of Liverpool. We must find a solution which is both a good economic one as well as a social and environmental one.

31. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had and with whom on the future of the Port of London Authority and the possible writing-off of its debts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Rodgers

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 13 March.

Mr. McCrindle

Has the Secretary of State seen the suggestion that in return for a slimming down of the dock labour force the Government will be prepared to write off the cumulative debts of the Port of London Authority? Can he say whether there is any truth in that suggestion and, if so, what sort of slimming down of the labour force he envisages? What would be the total amount of the debts to be written off?

Mr. Rodgers

No suggestions have been made to me. Even if I believe that that is the right course, I have no powers to take such steps.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

When the Minister considers—I hope favourably—wiping off these debts, will he remember the precedent set by a well-known British company with well-known Tory connections, which was able to fiddle the taxpayer of millions of pounds through overcharging on contracts? All money was wiped off and there was not a murmur from the Tories. Will my right hon. Friend therefore consider wiping off these debts which were not incurred by any illegal act such as that by the great Ferranti organisation?

Mr. Rodgers

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reminder, which I am sure will be taken fully into. account.