Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received from the National Ports Council its report on the future prospects of the ports industry.
§ Mr. William RodgersI told the House on 17th May that I had asked the National Ports Council in discussion with those concerned, to let me have its recommendations on the way in which plans for the strategic future of the ports should be developed. With my consent the council is publishing the report today.
In its report the council considers that there us currently no shortage of capacity to handle any major traffic. Generally speaking, the financial position of the ports industry has improved though some ports have done less well.
However, as the report also says, there are areas in which the efficiency of the industry could be improved and the council has proposed that it should have further time to consider with the industry and those concerned with the industry, some of the important matters which emerged from the report. I have agreed therefore that it should have further consultations on these matters over the next year and report back to me. It will use as a basis for these consultations the appendices to the report which it has not had sufficient time to discuss and agree in detail with interested parties. I trust that there will be full co-operation with 456W the National Ports Council in all these important consultations.
I have arranged for copies of the NPC's report to be placed in the Library.