HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 c364W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has reached a decision after the public inquiry into the proposal by Associated British Ports for a harbour order to extend the limits of the port of Southampton to include the western Solent. [39938]

Sir George Young

I have agreed with the inspector that the order should not be made. I have considered the reasons for making it and taken careful note of the arguments put forward by the applicants and their supporters and by the objectors. I agreed with the inspector that the order is unnecessary, and that none of the concerns in the case for the order is so important, or incapable of resolution by current practices or regulations.