§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Minister of Transport (1) whether she will direct the National Ports Council to undertake and publish at the first opportunity a survey of the port facilities being developed to handle grain imports into Wester n Europe, with special reference to the size of vessel which these facilities are designed to handle;
(2) whether she will direct the National Ports Council to undertake and publish at the first opportunity a survey of bulk grain carriers now in service, being built and on order to meet the requirements of the Western European and British grain trades, respectively.
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§ Mr. SwinglerWe are satisfied that the facilities which are being planned for the import of bulk grain into the U.K. are fully adequate to meet the present and prospective demands of the grain trade. Before advising my right hon. Friend on recent grain terminal proposals the National Ports Council had extensive discussions with the trade. If, however, the major grain importers wish to put forward any further views about the future pattern of the trade, my right hon. Friend, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be glad to arrange for them to be examined.