asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is providing any financial assistance to meet the cost of registered dock worker severances in the ports of London and Liverpool.

Substantial reductions in registered manpower are essential in these two ports if the Port of London Authority and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company are to meet the objective I have set them of returning to profitability in 1983. The Government will therefore be meeting the full cost of severing registered dock workers in the ports of London and Liverpool under the special offer announced by the national joint council for the port transport industry on 14 April.