HC Deb 28 June 1989 vol 155 cc475-6W
Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public subsidy is given to British ports; and what is the situation in EEC countries.

Mr. Portillo

The only grants that the Government make to British ports are for fishing harbour projects and severance payments to surplus registered dock workers. A few local authorities fund the losses of ports which they own. In some other member states public funds meet a large proportion of the cost of port infrastructure developments. Certain ports in all parts of the Community may also receive grants from the European regional development fund.

Mr. Patrick Thomson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by(a) volume and (b) value the amount of trade handled by British ports in each year since 1979.

Mr. Portillo

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise data on the volume and value of imports and exports through the seaports of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1988 (excluding imports of oil and gas by pipeline from the Norwegian sector of the North sea) are as follows:

Trade through United Kingdom sea ports
Volume (million tonnes) Value (billion pounds)
Imports Exports Imports Exports
1979 156.0 89.3 38.1 31.7
1980 130.9 93.0 38.1 37.0
1981 121.0 116.5 40.7 40.4
1982 120.8 115.7 45.7 43.9
1983 117.6 121.5 51.8 47.2
1984 137.7 127.2 61.3 53.8
1985 142.3 133.1 66.9 59.7
1986 147.9 137.6 67.8 53.6
1987 149.9 136.0 74.5 58.3
11988 160.6 123.1 82.7 59.0
1 Provisional.

Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers, cars and coaches passed through Britain's ports in each year since 1979.

Mr. Portillo

Information on car, coach and international passenger movements through the seaports of Great Britain, up to 1987, is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1977–1987" (tables 1.9 and 4.11) copies of which are in the Library. Car and coach figures include domestic movements except those to the Isle of Wight. Corresponding figures for 1988 are 4,234,000 cars, including 262,000 by hovercraft services, 170,000 buses and coaches, and 24,867,000 passengers.