§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the operation of freeports in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on their performances to date.
§ Mr. BrookeSince the freeports were introduced as an experiment in 1984 their performance has been kept under regular review by Treasury appointed consultants who submit annual progress reports.
Of the six designated sites Liverpool and Southampton are operational and have stated that their throughput is increasing; Birmingham will open at the end of the month; the three other freeports are not operational at present.