asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Sir Alexander Gibb and. Partners, who were instructed by his Department to make contact with Messrs. T. F. Burns and Partners, the consultant engineers of Inch Green Investigating Company, to examine the technical aspects of the proposed dock at Greenock, were instructed early this year by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee to take no further action meantime; and if he will make a statement.

I am unable to provide the information for which my hon. Friend asks without disclosing confidential details of the application for financial assistance made by the promoters of this project. Since the application is still under consideration by the Development Areas Tr00E9;asury Advisory Committee, there is nothing that I can usefully add to the replies which my right hon. Friend and I have already given.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that a satisfactory result of the tech- nical examination might have some bearing on the final decision and, if this examination is done now, it might save up to three months' delay if, or when, the scheme is approved?

I do not think I can add to what I have said. There are financial considerations to be taken into account as well.