Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to revise and modernise the lesser ports of the country for the extension of coastal trade facilities and/ or, in case of need, the diversion of certain tonnage from its customary destination?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaResponsibility for improving the ports of the country rests primarily with the bodies which control them, but as my right hon. Friend the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence indicated to the hon. and gallant Member for the Ayr Burghs (Lieut.-Colonel Moore) on 17th February, the value of the smaller ports to the coasting trade and in the general distributive system of the country is not being overlooked.