§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has in respect of port policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisThe United Kingdom Government's policies for our commercial ports over the past decade and more have reflected our broad policies to promote the encouragement of choice and competition, to allow transport to operate as far as possible in an unrestricted market, with intervention limited to areas such as safety and environmental issues. These policies will be continued.
The Government's ports strategy has enabled the United Kingdom ports industry to take full advantage of commercial opportunities, improvements in productivity and efficiency, and be in the forefront of technological progress. Privatisation has achieved major benefits in terms of reduced costs, increased productivity and improved service to the consumer and the user.
I have every confidence that our policies will provide the basis for further successful development of the ports industry; in particular; the Government believe that the future of a number of the remaining trust ports should be within the private sector.