§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on the competitive structure of the ports industry of the national dock labour scheme.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerPorts to which the dock labour scheme applies suffer the disadvantages of its rigidities and cost, and some of them have had a poor industrial relations record. The growth in recent years of ports outside the scheme must in part reflect these factors. However, it would be very difficult to assess the effect of the scheme, as opposed to other relevant factors, on the comparative competitiveness of our ports.