Mr. A. HENDERSON, junr.,asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the works at Cardiff Docks towards which a grant is being made to the Great Western railway Company under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929; and what is the nature and amount of the Government grant?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONThe scheme submitted to the Development (Public Utility) Advisory Committee by the Great Western Railway for Cardiff Docks was for the provision of six appliances capable of dealing with 20-ton wagons in lieu of existing hoists; provision of 12 electric cranes in lieu of existing steam and hydraulic cranes, and provision of new electric pumping plant in lieu of existing steam plans. The 1825W estimated total cost of the work is £325,000, and forms part of a comprehensive scheme for the modernisation of the company's South Wales Docks at a cost of £3,222,000. The assistance offered by the Treasury, with my concurrence and after consultation with the Development Committee, takes the form 1826W Under Section 2 of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act, 1929, of a grant towards defraying the interest on the capital expenditure incurred, and is estimated to have a present value equivalent to a capital contribution towards the whole scheme of approximately £972,000.