asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in respect of what projects he is committed to provide loans or grants to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and to what values;(2) what loans have been made to the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board; on what terms and for what purposes; and how much has been repaid;

The following loans and grants have been made:

Project	Loans (£000)	Grants (£000)
Seaforth	14,292	2,283
Car Ferry Terminal (British and Irish Line)	37	7
Gladstone Container Berth	1,129	131
Vittoria Peninsula Dock	1,531	229
Tranmere Oil Stage	393	83
Channel Deepening	559	98
Other expenditure	59	934
	18,000	3,765

The above loans have been made available as work has been completed and are repayable over periods ranging from 10 to 40 years. No repayments have yet fallen due. The rates of interest vary between 7½ per cent. and 10 per cent.Major projects on which work is still outstanding, and their estimated total costs, including work already done, are as follows:

Seaforth	about £40 million
Car Ferry Terminal	£2·1 million

I have indicated to the Board that, provided the immediate viability of the port is assured and that necessary remedial measures are taken, Government funds will continue to be made aavilable for the Seaforth Scheme and for other approved capital works. For the purposes of these arrangements, authorisations for individual items of work and for instalments of Government grant or loan are being dealt with from time to time as necessary.