§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total expenditure on schemes of harbour development of a capital nature, excluding works of routine maintenance and repair, during the years 1965 to 1969, both inclusive, in all harbours or groups of harbours (other than British Transport Docks Board harbours) in which more than 5 million tons of goods were handled in any period falling between June 30, 1966, and July 1, 1968, and what was the estimated cost of such work on schemes begun during the period 1965 to 1969 and remaining at December 31, 1969, to be completed.]
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTER-BOTTOM)My Lords, total capital expenditure on development schemes at these ports amounted to some £120 million over the five-year period 1965 to 1969. Information about the estimated cost of outstanding work on schemes unfinished at the end of 1969 is not separately available.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him how much of the expenditure of £120 million was, in the view of the Government, a misdirection of resources?
LORD WLNTERBOTTOMA misdirection of resources, my Lords? Did I hear the noble Lord correctly? In the view of the Government these resources were correctly directed.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, in that case would the noble Lord be prepared to say, either now or in the debate on Thursday, in what respect resources have been misdirected, as stated by the Government in paragraph 6 of the White Paper?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I think the noble Lord is pre-empting points that he is to make on Thursday.