British Transport Docks Board
Encyclopedia
The British Transport Docks Board (BTDB) was a nationalised industry, managing former railway-owned docks in Great Britain. It was created by the Transport Act 1962
and abolished by the Transport Act 1981
, which provided for its privatisation as Associated British Ports.
The business had its origins in the ports developed or acquired by the private railway companies. These passed to the British Transport Commission
on nationalisation in 1948 and were organised under its Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.
The Transport Act 1962 abolished the Commission and distributed its assets to five successor bodies. The BTDB inherited the dock undertakings, other than harbours used primarily by railway steamer services.
The BTDB was among the first nationalised industries to be privatised by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
.
Transport Act 1962
The Transport Act 1962 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Described as the "most momentous piece of legislation in the field of railway law to have been enacted since the Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1854", it was passed by Harold Macmillan's Conservative government to dissolve the...
and abolished by the Transport Act 1981
Transport Act 1981
The Transport Act 1981 was a Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Amongst other items it introduced the compulsory wearing of seat belts for front seat passengers for a trial period of three year....
, which provided for its privatisation as Associated British Ports.
The business had its origins in the ports developed or acquired by the private railway companies. These passed to the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
on nationalisation in 1948 and were organised under its Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.
The Transport Act 1962 abolished the Commission and distributed its assets to five successor bodies. The BTDB inherited the dock undertakings, other than harbours used primarily by railway steamer services.
The BTDB was among the first nationalised industries to be privatised by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.