§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion he has had with the chairman of the British Transport Docks Board concerning the board's differing price policy for fish landings in his ports.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithOfficials of my Department are in contact with the British Transport Docks Board, but decisions on the level of charges to be made for the use of the fish docks under its control are a matter for the board.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the price of landing fish in Hull being 10 times that of landings in the port of Grimsby, if he will take steps to determine a fair landing price, in view of the proposed abolition of the National Ports Council which acted as the appeal authority on dock prices.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport that the National Ports Council will continue to exercise its existing functions until legislation to abolish the council is enacted, and that he is consulting interested parties about the future arrangements for functions at present undertaken by the council. The appeal arrangements on dock charges are therefore continuing in operation.