§ Mr. Bagierasked the Minister of Transport to what extent shipping is being delayed in discharging cargoes because of congestion at some ports; and whether he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Docks Board to consider the possibility of diverting vessels to North-East ports where facilities for immediate discharge are available.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI am not aware of any significant congestion at the moment in our more important ports. In any event, a statutory direction to the Docks 259W Board would not be an appropriate or practical way of dealing with what is essentially a commercial matter between a shipowner and his customers.