THIS week in Parliament, I secured a debate on port regulation and maximising the economic and maritime potential of the Forth and Clyde in particular. Scotland’s got many firths but, given population and industry, these are perhaps the most important.

As someone born in Leith and who can see the Forth from their flat in Dunbar, the river matters, as it does to many in communities along these firths. They’re also vital to the country’s economy, for exports and inbound tourism.

Sadly, neither firth is delivering anything like its full potential. The reason for that is down to their ownership.

Most of the ports in East Lothian are trust ports run for the benefit of users and community. But since ports were privatised in 1992, the major ports on the Forth and Clyde have seen control move not just from the community but from Scotland.

Forth Ports are now owned by the Canadian Public Sector Investment Board. That means their priority is securing revenue for current and future Canadian pensioners, not protecting the economic interests of Scotland or the needs of communities. Clydeport are owned by Peel Properties PLC. They are based in Manchester and owned by a billionaire in the Isle of Man.

But it’s not just their ownership that’s a concern but what other ports they operate. Forth’s largest port is Tilbury on the River Thames and Peel Ports own the Port of Liverpool on the Mersey. In terms of trade tonnage, the Thames and Mersey are significantly bigger than their Scottish firths. That no doubt impacts on their actions and is a situation harmful to Scottish interests.

It even extends beyond that, as dredging the firths is the responsibility of these private firm. Where’s the incentive for them to provide for smaller ports on these firths but which aren’t owned by them? Even more glaring, Peel Ports own Cammell Laird shipyard in Liverpool, which is a competitor to Ferguson yard in Port Glasgow. That’s both wrong and damaging.