§ Mr. E. Rowlandsasked the Minister of Transport (1) what progress his Department has made on the study of maritime industrial development areas; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consultations his Department has had with local authorities in the coastal areas of South Wales upon the study of maritime industrial development areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarshThe results of the preliminary study carried out by consultants for the National Ports Council and the Government Departments concerned show that a number of sites, including the coastal flats near Newport, are physically suitable for development as maritime industrial development areas. Consideration is still being given to other aspects of these studies. It is too soon to say whether or when a decision will be taken to go ahead with development at one or more of the sites, and no consultations have so far been held with the local authorities in the coastal areas of South Wales.