§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the continental ports in the European Community offering free pilotage; and what are the current pilotage charges for the Port of London Authority.
§ Mr. David MitchellInformation on the first part of the hon. Member's question is not readily available and I do not think that the cost of obtaining it for individual ports throughout the EEC would be justified; pilotage charges in the London pilotage district are a matter for Trinity House as the pilotage authority for the district.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the results of his study of the levels of subsidy of port charges provided either by central Government or local authorities for continental ports such as Hamburg and Rotterdam.;
(2) if he will raise the issue of subsidising port charges with other member countries of the European Community under the competition rules; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI will answer these questions shortly.