§ 53. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is able to clarify the position of the port of Preston in relation to national ports policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarksWe have been informed by the Preston Borough Council of the problems it is currently facing and have discussed these with representatives of the Council. My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport has explained that the Council cannot look to national ports policy to provide easy answers and that it is for the Council to decide what course it should best pursue; in all the circumstances it might think it desirable to consider an appropriate degree of retrenchment and reduction of costs to match the levels of trade that it can realistically forecast.