HC Deb 30 June 1993 vol 227 c536W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has about reduced levels of dredging being carried out by Clydeport; and what representations he has made to Clydeport about the dredging of the Clyde;

(2) if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to oblige Clydeport to dredge the Clyde either in whole or in part;

(3) what policy proposals he has to ensure that the River Clyde is adequately dredged in the future;

(4) who is responsible for dredging the Clyde.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Clydeport Ltd., as successor to the former Clyde Port authority, has a permissive power to dredge the Clyde river channel to the extent that it is considered necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the port, but has no statutory duty to dredge.

It remains the Government's policy that port authorities, including Clydeport Ltd., should manage their businesses on a commercial basis and that the costs of dredging should be met by charges to the users of ports, or by other parties who benefit from the dredging. The Government have no plans to introduce legislation to alter this situation.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the consequences of reduced levels of dredging of the Clyde for(a) navigation, (b) flooding and (c) the environment.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I understand that a study to examine the effects of the cessation of dredging of the River Clyde, commissioned by Clydeport Ltd., and Strathclyde regional council, with the aid of European regional development fund grant support, reported in September 1989. Its main conclusions were that

  1. (a) Available draught for navigation would be reduced:
  2. (b) Extreme high tide levels would not increase significantly. However, low water levels in extreme weather conditions would he considered higher than at present. This could cause some increase in the risk and incidence of indirect flooding in the unlikely event of several extreme rainfall events occurring in short succession; and
  3. (c) mudbanks would build at the sides of the channel, particularly at wider parts of the river.

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