asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for the maximum utilisation of the already existing dock facilities of Swansea, and other South Wales ports, in the light of proposals for new ship berth construction in the Bristol Channel.

The British Transport Docks Board has had considerable success in attracting new traffics through the South Wales ports to replace the declining coal trade. So far as development schemes are concerned, I have received from the Board an application under Section 9 of the Harbours Act, 1964, for the authorisation of the improvement of the South Dock at Newport. Other improvement schemes for the South Wales ports, including Swansea, are being considered by the Board.