§ 37. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Transport which European Economic Community countries, apart from the United Kingdom, allow competitive access to their coastal shipping, cabotage trades.
§ Mr. RidleyApart from the United Kingdom only Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and, in practice, Denmark allow such access. This is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs which I am pursuing urgently in bilateral discussions with EC Ministers. Discussions are also taking place within the Community on a proposal 437W from the Commission which would have the effect of ensuring mutual competitive access to all member states' cabotage trades.