§ Mr. Hillasked the Minister of Transport whether the 19 ports at present administered by the British Transport Docks Board will be kept as one unit or whether they will operate as individual associated companies.
§ Mr. FowlerAs I told the House on 21 July—[Vol. 989, c. 151–59]—my proposals envisage that the BTDB's undertaking will be maintained as a single management unit.
§ Mr. Hillasked the Minister of Transport whether the British Transport Docks Board will be free after privatisation to undertake port-related business such as ship agency and ship chartering work and development of existing dock wasteland.
§ Mr. FowlerYes. It is one of the chief purposes of my policy to allow the business to develop by freeing them from public sector restraints. The board will have full commercial freedom and will no longer be subject to intervention and interference from the Government.