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37.
Mr. Higgins
asked the Secretary of State for Transport which European Economic Community countries, apart from the United Kingdom, allow competitive access to their coastal shipping, cabotage trades.
Mr. Ridley
Apart from the United Kingdom only Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and, in practice, Denmark allow such access. This is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs which I am pursuing urgently in bilateral discussions with EC Ministers. Discussions are also taking place within the Community on a proposal from the Commission which would have the effect of ensuring mutual competitive access to all member states' cabotage trades.