asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the necessity for substituting for the obsolete methods of discharging raw material in this country modern terminal facilities in order to reduce the cost to the manufacturer and consumer, and so conduce to economy in industry and cheaper food supplies; and what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on Port Facilities in connection with the handling of imports and exports in the United Kingdom?

I have been asked to reply. I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the Report made last year by the unofficial Committee appointed by the Chamber of Shipping. The responsibility for providing efficient and up-to-date discharging facilities at ports rests with the various port authorities, and my information is that improvements are being continually carried out, in some cases with financial assistance from the Unemployment Grants Committee, both at the ports referred to by the Committee of the Chamber of Shipping and at other ports as well.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that our facilities are the worst in the world, and that, whereas in most places a vessel can discharge in a day, it takes about six days in this country?

I cannot for a moment accept my hon. Friend's description of our ports.

It is a fact, all the same.

Would the right hon. Gentleman do something to facilitate the provision of terminal facilities for British produce?