Baird told UK Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling and other key players in Scotland's transport industry, 'A hub port is not just another business. It is an entity that creates a critical mass of industries around it. Hub ports are especially important as they give access to tremendous shipping economies of scale and therefore low transport costs, facilitating the movement of goods and strengthening inward investment. Other EU countries have long recognised the relationship between hub ports, trade and regional economic developments.

'The Executive is currently faced with two private sector led projects to develop new deep water container transhipment terminals at Scapa Flow and Hunstanton. These facilities will have major implications for the Scottish economy, yet the Executive, unlike other EU countries, is not nearly as pro-active as it could be in helping to facilitate and support such terminals.

'I believe the Government needs to radically re-think its policy and place hub port developments as a key priority on its transport and economic agenda.'

MJ Information No: 19555