Department for Transport
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Making the most of trust ports
The Department for Transport has today published a report on potential reform in the trust port sector in England and Wales. The report was prepared for the Department by independent consultants Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC).
The report was commissioned to help the Department understand how the potential of trust ports can be fully exploited and to recommend ways in which they can improve their accountability and financial performance.
In a Parliamentary Written Statement, Shipping Minister Stephen
Ladyman highlighted the report's key findings. They include
the following:
* the trust model retains a legitimate role
within a mixed ports sector;
* larger trust ports operate on a
sound commercial basis but their financial performance sometimes
falls short of the private sector;
* trust ports should do
more to identify and account for use of their profits - what the
report terms their 'stakeholder dividend';
Dr Ladyman said:
"The study represents a valuable
contribution to the debate on the trust port sector. The
Government will bring forward new guidance for trust ports in
England and Wales later this year, following further discussion
with the industry based on these recommendations."
Notes for Editors:
1. The Pricewaterhouse Coopers Report can
be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/shippingports/ports/trust/.
2. Trust ports are independent statutory bodies, governed by unique legislation and controlled by an independent board rather than shareholders.
3. More than fifty ports in England and Wales are trust ports - including Dover, Milford Haven, and the Port of London Authority (which holds conservancy duties for the Thames Estuary).
4. In 2001, seven of the largest commercial trust ports were classified by the ONS as Public Corporations for Government accounting purposes, owing to various controls which Government retains over them - namely a board-majority appointed by central or local government, and the power of Government compulsorily to privatise the port under the Ports Act 1991. The ports in question applied in 2004 for Harbour Revision Orders (HROs) to remove these controls. All but London were unsuccessful, after objections to the HROs were received. The Department decided to use the opportunity presented by the Ports Policy Review to consider more widely the status of the trust port sector and the Government's relationship with the largest trust ports.
5. The Department aims to complete the Ports Policy Review and publish its findings later this year.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
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