§ 61 and 62. Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Minister of Transport (1) how many joint studies of maritime industrial areas have now been initiated by her Department and the National Ports Council;
(2) whether she will undertake a study of the establishment of customs-free ports and manufacturing areas within any proposed maritime industrial areas.
§ Mrs. CastleThe Government Departments primarily concerned have discussed with the National Ports Council the initiation of a study designed to identify possible sites for maritime industrial areas, and have also, with the co-operation of the British Transport Docks Board, been taking account of these possibilities in the Humberside and Severnside studies. These ideas for major long-term development raise many important issues requiring detailed study, and the possibility of establishing Custom-free zones will certainly be borne in mind.