Ports (Hansard, 15 October 2002)

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to prevent a distortion of competition between existing ports in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic when applications are submitted for funding to the European Union and Her Majesty's Government from port authorities in the United Kingdom. [73399]

§ Mr. Jamieson
Where port authorities in the UK seek public funding, we undertake an assessment of the potential impact on traffic flows at other UK ports. Funding of ports in the Irish Republic is a matter for the Irish Government.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the level of use of European Union-assisted ferry port facilities in the United Kingdom. [73398]

§ Mr. Jamieson
No specific assessments have been made of the use of ferry port facilities that have received European Union assistance.