by political editor Paul Francis

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said there will be no "forced privatisation" of the Port of Dover.

His pledge came as he was pressed on the Government's position on the proposed sell-off during Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser raised the possible privatisation with the Prime Minister, asking him to dispel speculation being made by the Conservatives that the Government was "hell bent" on selling the port.

Dover Harbour Board has made a formal application to the Transport Secretary for authority to restructure the organisation in order to introduce private capital.

The restructuring means the port would move fully into the private sector and would no longer be a trust port.

Mr Brown replied to the MP's question saying: "There will be no forced privatisation of Dover. There will be a look at new ways of getting investment into the Port."

Speaking after PMQs, Mr Prosser said he was delighted by the assurance offered by Mr Brown.

"I have always opposed privatisation and will continue to do so. Dover Harbour Board are hiding behind the old myth that it is absolutely impossible for them to borrow in the private market because they are a public port and because their borrowing would come against the government's balance sheet. That is not the case at all. There are ways the Goverment and the Treasury can act to allow this borrowing to take place."

Reports that those said to be interested in buying the port include the Nord Pas de Calais regional council in France, which owns the port of Calais, have been denied by the Dover Harbour Board.