§ Mr. Gowerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a statement upon the report on the South Wales ports by the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThis is a valuable report, and it has been carefully considered by the Ministers concerned. The first of its two main recommendations was that the Government should request the British Transport Commission to undertake, after the issue of the new charges scheme, an urgent and exhaustive review of the level and content of rates for port traffic. The British Transport Commission have agreed to set up an expert committee, consisting of the representatives of the railways and dock managements, to do this. Meanwhile, until the new Railway Merchandise Charges Scheme comes into effect, the Western Region of British Railways will investigate any cases where rail borne traffic to and from the South Wales ports might be profitably developed.
The second recommendation was that a further attempt should be made to resolve the matter of the shipowners' and shippers' responsibilities for dock charges in South Wales. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation understands that the shipowners are willing to discuss the matter with the other interests and he is arranging to bring the parties together.