§ Ms WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by Belfast Harbour Commissioners in developing their proposals for the transfer of the port to the private sector; what consultation there will be on the proposals; and if she will make a statement. [63222]
§ Marjorie MowlamIn May this year, the Government conveyed their agreement, in principle, to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners' proposals to transfer the Port to the private sector by means of a placed flotation, with the aim of establishing a private/public partnership, with Government retaining a Golden Share interest. Since then the Commissioners have made good progress in further developing their proposals with the view to submitting a formal Transfer Scheme to the Department, under the terms of the Ports (NI) Order 1994.
This legislation provides for a 6-week public consultation on submission of a Transfer Scheme to the Department. However, local elected representatives have expressed the view that this period is insufficient given the strategic importance of the Port in Northern Ireland context. Following discussions with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners therefore, it has been agreed that the Commissioners will now embark on a consultation process involving local Political Parties and other interested groups, before finalising their proposals and submitting their Transfer Scheme.
It is expected that this further consultation will extend over a 3–4 month period and this means that the final decision on the Commissioners' Transfer Scheme will be taken by the Assembly. I am writing today to each of the Northern Ireland Political parties explaining in more detail the arrangements for the extended consultation process.