Dissolution of National Dock Labour Board

Part of Orders of the Day — Dock Work Bill – in the House of Commons at 8:38 pm on 24 May 1989.

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Photo of Mr Tim Janman Mr Tim Janman , Thurrock 8:38, 24 May 1989

If I hear the hon. Gentleman correctly, he is trying to make the point that the existence of the dock labour scheme and its abolition are completely irrelevant to international competitiveness, vis-a-vis the docks' competitors in Europe. If that is so, why is it that, in the short time since the Government announced their intention to abolish the scheme, one major timber importer, who is currently importing timber from the far east into Europe via Rotterdam, has already contacted the chief executive of the port of Tilbury to say that he will be interested, once the scheme has gone, in bringing those imports into Europe through Tilbury rather than through Rotterdam?