§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to conclude the updating of The Project Appraisal Framework for Ports, published in 2003. [189099]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government announced its intention to update the Project Appraisal Framework for Ports in paragraph 7.29 of the Future of Transport White Paper. This will form part of the review of the ports policy framework to be launched after autumn 2005.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Autumn 2005 review date for a response to the global growth in shipping traffic and new port capacity. [189106]
§ Mr. JamiesonWe expect that, by Autumn 2005, the Secretary of State for Transport will have taken decisions on the proposals for major container port development currently outstanding and due to be determined by him. As the Secretary of State said in his statement to the House on 20 July we intend to take a long-term approach to port development and will 1845W review the policy framework for ports by the end of next year. Para 7.28 of The Future of Transport makes clear that one of the key issues that the review will show we should respond to forecast global growth in shipping traffic by providing new port capacity.