HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc844-5W
Mr. Woodcock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps will be taken to ensure registered docks will be in a position to compete fairly with the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portiilo

I have been asked to reply.

The tunnel does not enjoy favoured treatment over ports. There is no public funding or guarantee, and the Government are committed to even-handedness, for example, of infrastructure and frontier control measures. As regards ports in the dock labour scheme, we have no present plans to change their position.