§ 44. Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for the development of port facilities at Bristol in the context of the economy of the South-West as a whole.
§ Mr. CarmichaelMy right hon. Friend has no powers to initiate port developments; this is the responsibility of the port authorities in consultation as necessary with prospective users of the development, but developments costing above £500,000 may not be carried out without my right hon. Friend's authorisation. The Port of Bristol Authority have requested her authorisation for the proposed new Bristol West Dock at a cost of £14.75 million, and she is considering this with the help of advice by the South West Economic Planning Council on the regional implications of the proposal.