§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimate of the current capacity in shipping tonnage of United Kingdom ports and of the shipping tonnage actually using United Kingdom ports.
§ Mr. William RodgersBecause of the great diversity of ships and cargoes it would not be feasible to make any meaningful estimate of the capacity of British ports in terms of shipping tonnage. No national statistics are available of the tonnage of shipping using such ports. Detailed statistics of the quantities of cargo loaded and unloaded in British ports are, however, kept, and are published regularly by the National Ports Council.
§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made representations to Governments of EEC countries on the high level of subsidy given to certain port authorities in Europe.
§ Mr. William RodgersNo. As I understand it, it is for the Governments and other authorities concerned to decide what financial arrangements they make in relation to their own ports. The hon. Member may be aware, however, that, on the initiative of the European Commission, and with the approval of the European Parliament, a fact-finding inquiry is324W currently being carried out amongst various ports in EEC member States. At this stage, Governments themselves are not involved.
§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken following the Touche Ross Report for the National Ports Council "Comparison of the Costs of Continental and British Ports 1974".
§ Mr. William RodgersAs the hon. Member recognises, the Touche Ross Report was commissioned by and made to the National Ports Council, which has published the report, and distributed it widely within the United Kingdom ports industry, and to the continental ports which were studied. It has also been seen by officials in the European Commission.