Q12. Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the Minister of Transport in respect of the Port of London Authority and in respect of the projected closure of Surrey Docks.
§ The Prime MinisterA decision whether or not to close the Surrey Commercial Docks is a matter for the Port of London Authority alone, and my right 125W hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has no responsibilities in relation to management questions of this kind. However, in order to avoid the possibility of subsequent challenge by the proposed National Ports Authority under the "safeguarding" provisions in Schedule 4 of the Ports Bill, now before Parliament, the Port of London Authority have applied to my right hon. Friend for his approval of their proposal to close the Docks.