皇冠体育app

Opening remarks

Thank you for that introduction Charles (Charles Hammond, Chairman UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG)).

And thank you also for asking me along - I鈥檓 delighted to have this chance to meet with you this evening.

Facts are stubborn things

John Adams, second President of the United States, said, 鈥淔acts are stubborn things鈥�.

And for me, the stubborn facts prove that Britain鈥檚 ports are a national asset:

• every year more than 500 million tonnes of freight and well over 20 million international passengers pass through our ports
• they account for over 95% of our imports and exports by volume
• and they employ around 130,000 people and contribute close to 拢7 billion to GDP (Oxford Economics Report 2011)

Our ports matter more than ever

Put simply, our ports matter.

And with Britain facing the most serious economic challenge in a generation, they matter more than ever.

Yes, you create wealth, jobs and growth right here at home.

And that contribution is absolutely vital to the health of our national economy.

But your economic importance doesn鈥檛 start and finish at our borders.

And that鈥檚 because you connect our country and our companies to new markets and new customers overseas.

Nobody has more experience, or more expertise, in accessing the global economy - seizing its opportunities, maximising its potential.

Working day and night so that Britain is always open for business.

Making sure we鈥檙e a top trading nation, as well as a leading maritime nation.

That鈥檚 who you are. It鈥檚 what you do - better than anyone.

And it鈥檚 why you are key players. 皇冠体育app people and the firms who can help Britain out-compete and out-produce the rest of the world.

An evangelist for the ports industry

I know I have a tough act to follow in my predecessor Mike Penning.

I鈥檓 sure this audience will agree that Mike was a vocal and effective champion for this country鈥檚 ports.

Well I want you to know that I鈥檓 determined to pick up where Mike left off by being an evangelist for your industry.

So be in no doubt:

• trust port or private company
• small, medium or large enterprise
• north, south, east or west

I will be on your side.

皇冠体育app name on the ministerial door may be different.

But our strategy and our policy for the maritime sector remains exactly the same.

皇冠体育app right environment to grow and succeed

So I鈥檓 looking forward to visiting many of the ports you represent, to see for myself how they are coping in what remains a difficult trading climate.

I know these are tough and testing times

But, as always, your members have been equal to them

For me, the fact that UK ports increased their total traffic by 1.5% last year is a huge achievement when set against the backdrop of continuing worldwide economic difficulties.

I believe that suggests your members are well placed to benefit as the economy picks up.

And, with interest rates at their lowest for generations, now is a good time for stable, profitable businesses to invest for the future.

But this government knows that we must play our part too. And there are 2 main strands to this:

• creating an environment in which ports and maritime-related business of all kinds can succeed
• making sure that the infrastructure for which government has direct responsibility complements and supports the work you do

That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e supporting major container port developments like those already under construction at Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton.

This is crucial if these ports are to welcome the largest container vessels which are coming into service.

皇冠体育appse ships have the choice not to call in Britain at all if the infrastructure isn鈥檛 there.

But these investments will help make sure that as many deep-sea boxes as possible are delivered directly to this country. And that the country is ready for recovery and growth in trade in manufactured goods.

To which UK port will they come? That鈥檚 up to you. I鈥檒l be as interested as anyone to see how the competition in this sector plays out.

And others will follow. Liverpool, Bristol, Dover and Teesport also have the necessary consents to expand their businesses.

But beyond the container sector, it鈥檚 imperative that every port is able to pursue a vision for the future - whether that鈥檚 responding to the opportunities brought by offshore energy, or it鈥檚 tapping into the potential of the tourism and leisure market.

So, regardless of the business model or maritime market your members choose, I want to make sure the government creates the right environment for them to grow and prosper.

Better infrastructure, less regulation

To create that environment we鈥檙e absolutely committed to investing in the strategic roads and rail infrastructure that serves UK ports.

This includes far-reaching improvements to the rail freight network鈥�as part of a 拢9.4 billion rail investment package announced this summer.

Among the new initiatives is a high capacity 鈥榚lectric rail spine鈥� running from the south coast ports to the West Midlands and Yorkshire.

We are also looking at ways to relieve the congestion on road routes to and from ports

So, for example, we鈥檝e set out a major scheme to boost the capacity of the A14 linking Felixstowe with the midlands and the north,

This is one of the most crucial arteries for goods coming into the country and - together with measures to boost rail freight - this modernisation will help ease the flow of traffic around one of our biggest ports.

We are also removing the barriers you face so you can do your job efficiently and profitably.

As well as being responsible for ports and shipping, I also have the title 鈥楳inister for Better Regulation鈥� within the DfT.

Well I want you to know that I also regard myself as 鈥楳inister for Less Regulation鈥�.

So believe me, if I find suffocating red tape that鈥檚 getting in your way and slowing you down, I will cut it.

And where there are regulations which add no value, I will scrap them.

So, while we鈥檝e already run through the Red Tape Challenge formalities, here鈥檚 a challenge that remains open to you: let me know where there is still any redundant regulation and I will try to get rid of it.

Closing remarks

In conclusion, the case I鈥檝e put this evening is that our ports have a front and centre role in the life of our nation:

• boosting jobs and growth in Britain
• acting as international gateways for trade and travel
• helping us transform our economic prospects

But then you have always been fundamental to this country.

Yours is the industry that helped turn a small island nation into a major global player.

An industry with a proud story to tell

But also an industry with a great future.

That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 a pleasure to be here this evening.

And that鈥檚 why I look forward to working with you all in the months and years ahead.

Thank you.