§ 41. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the delay of seven weeks at the London docks of footwear exports to Malaya, 96W which were dispatched from a Leicester factory on 26th November but not shipped from London until 11th January, details of which have been sent by the hon. Member for Louth; what causes such delays; what action he is taking to eliminate them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SwinglerWe have not received the details to which the hon. Member refers. The reasons for the serious delays at the end of last year were explained in the debate in the House on 23rd December. Over the last few weeks there has been a considerable improvement at the export berths, to which the special measures taken by the Port of London Authority and other interests have substantially contributed.