I am pleased to announce today, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, and with Andrew Davies AM, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, the launch of a review of ports policy covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (Ports policy in Scotland is being progressed separately by the Scottish Executive through its National Transport Strategy and subordinate freight strategy.)

We undertook, in the white paper "The Future of Transport", to:

"review our policy framework to keep track of wider changes affecting ports and to ensure we continue to have the right basis for their sustainable development", [paragraph 7.28]

That is the intention of this review. We publish today a discussion document, "Ports Policy—Your Views Invited", aimed at stimulating wide debate during a consultation period spanning the coming three months.

The review covers a broad range of policy issues. Based on new forecasts of demand for port facilities, which the Department's consultants MDS Transmodal are publishing alongside the discussion document, our discussion document starts from the broad principles which we see as informing Government involvement in the seaports sector following this review.

It includes coverage of the national, regional and local policy dimensions; expected capacity requirements; inland and coastal connections by road, rail and water; safety, security and environmental issues; competition at national and international level; governance and accountability; how the country's smaller ports can make the most of their opportunities, and whether there is scope for improving ports planning procedures.

The House is aware that our original intention had been to await decisions on the three proposed major container terminals at Felixstowe South, Bathside Bay and London Gateway. The first two have been approved, but the London Gateway decision is taking longer than originally expected to determine. We do not want to delay the review: our view is that we need to press on with addressing important questions affecting ports policy for the longer term.

We shall, in close liaison with our partners in Government, carefully consider all responses to the discussion document. The aim is then to develop a policy statement in the first half of 2007.

Alongside the discussion document, the Department is also publishing the conclusions of the municipal ports review, Opportunities for ports in local authority ownership. This has been developed in close liaison with the Department for Communities and Local Government, with the British Ports Association and with the municipal ports themselves. I am grateful for their contributions. The review highlights opportunities for real improvements in ports' management and performance, and I look forward to its recommendations being taken forward. Copies of all documents will be placed in the House Library, and can be found on the Department's website www.dft.gov.uk.