§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport if there has been any recent application to construct a container terminal at Falmouth; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. David MitchellFalmouth Container Terminal Ltd. reapplied for authorisation under section 9 of the Harbours Act 1964 on 7 October last.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what effect the construction of a container terminal at Falmouth will have on the port of Liverpool;
(2) if he will estimate the effects of the construction of a container terminal at Falmouth on the port of London.
§ Mr. David MitchellIf it were to be constructed, the effect of a container terminal at Falmouth on other ports would depend on how much, and what type of traffic it secures, where such traffic comes from and on the competitiveness of any such container terminal.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what new traffic is expected to be attracted to any proposed new development of the Falmouth container terminal;
(2) what evidence he has received that any new traffic will be attracted to any proposed container terminal at Falmouth.
§ Mr. David MitchellFalmouth Container Terminal Ltd. has provided us, in confidence, with information on its assessment of the potential use of its proposed terminal. It would not be proper for me either to disclose or to comment on that information.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport if the Falmouth Container Terminal Ltd. has made any application under the European regional development fund and section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 for financial assistance towards any application to construct a container terminal at Falmouth.
§ Mr. David MitchellNo.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated total cost of the construction of a container terminal at Falmouth.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe estimated cost quoted by Falmouth Container Terminal Ltd. in its Harbours Act reapplication of October 1983 was £71 million.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs will be created by the development of a container terminal at Falmouth.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe promoters have estimated upwards of 200 jobs inside the terminal with spin-off effects in the locality.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Transport if any public money will be given towards any proposed new road network if a container terminal is constructed at Falmouth.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is too soon to speculate what needs might arise if and when this terminal is built. Expenditure by county councils on new roads is eligible for transport supplementary grant. It would be for the Cornwall county council to decide whether to include any new road in the transport policy and programme it submits to my right hon. Friend each year. The promoters of the terminal envisage that most of the traffic will be transhipped by sea or carried by rail to inland destinations.