asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total labour force in the major United Kingdom docks, giving comparable figures for each of the past five years.

I have been asked to reply.The information for registered dock workers, according to National Dock Labour Board statistics, is as follows:implications of adopting the new system for less favourably located areas. In this context arrangements will be made from the outset to safeguard the special position of consumers in Northern Ireland.