HC Deb 16 January 1998 vol 304 cc335-6W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations the Government has made to(a) P&O and (b) the Indian Government regarding the proposed port development by P&O at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India; [22455]

(2) what action she has taken in response to representations she has received regarding the proposed port development by P&O at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India; [22456]

(3) how many representations received by Her Majesty's Government regarding the proposed port development by P&O at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India have been (a) in favour of and (b) against the project; [22457]

(4) what representations she has received from P&O regarding their proposed port development at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India; [22458]

(5) what representations she has received from the people of Dahanu Taluka regarding the proposed port development by P&O at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India; and if they were in favour of the proposed port development. [22459]

Mrs. Roche

To date, HMG have received seven representations regarding the proposed port development by P&O at Vadhavan. No representations were in favour of the project, and one came indirectly from the local people via the Dahanu Taluka Environment Welfare Association.

All the representations have been replied to by letter (except for the most recent one for which a reply is pending) explaining that the actual award of the contract to P&O Australia is for the Government of Maharashtra to decide and that the UK Government have no role in such an award. The replies also make it clear that the Vadhavan port development is not a British aid-funded project but purely a commercial transaction between P&O Australia and the Government of Maharashtra and, therefore, that interested parties may wish to express their concerns to the Maharashtran Government.

To date there have been no representations from the UK Government to either P&O or the Indian Government regarding the proposed port development at Vadhavan, nor has the UK Government received any representations from P&O with respect to the same issue.