Former minister speaks of ‘light touch regulation’

He was speaking on behalf of secretary of state for transport Patrick McLoughlin, who had been due to perform the official opening of the Berth 9 extension, but was called away because of the issues at Sharm el-Sheikh.

Sir Simon said: “This is yet another landmark day for the UK ports industry and for Felixstowe in particular. The industry has continued to invest steadily and confidently throughout the downturn.”

This is an industry that never sits still or sleeps, he said, and the UK ports industry, through leading players like Hutchison, “saw from the outset how container shipping was growing and responded positively to that challenge”.

Both Mr McLoughlin and UK transport minister Robert Goodwill share a commitment to the lightest possible regulation of the industry, said Sir Simon. “That is precisely because of the sort of investment we see here today, evidence that industry can be relied upon to take the initiative with minimum of regulation.”

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport is working closer than ever with other government departments that play a role in ports and logistics industry ‘to ensure a truly joined up approach’, he said.