Again, I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his constructive attitude. He will be aware that, at one point, we thought that his constituency would have the benefit of the vessel. He faced up to that with equanimity, and I can tell his hon. Friend the Member for...

Again, I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his constructive attitude. He will be aware that, at one point, we thought that his constituency would have the benefit of the vessel. He faced up to that with equanimity, and I can tell his hon. Friend the Member for...

The vessel did not go to those ports because the direction of travel of the wind and tides at the time was such that the assessment was made that it would not reach them. As I said in my initial statement, there is no provision at Falmouth for the offloading...

The vessel did not go to those ports because the direction of travel of the wind and tides at the time was such that the assessment was made that it would not reach them. As I said in my initial statement, there is no provision at Falmouth for the offloading...

With permission, Mr. Speaker, this statement is to update the House on the events leading to the beaching of the MSC Napoli at Lyme bay, east of Sidmouth. It follows my earlier written statement to the House on 25 January. During severe weather conditions on the morning of 18 January,...

With permission, Mr. Speaker, this statement is to update the House on the events leading to the beaching of the MSC Napoli at Lyme bay, east of Sidmouth. It follows my earlier written statement to the House on 25 January. During severe weather conditions on the morning of 18 January,...

I thank the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) for his constructive comments and join him in congratulating the RAF crew. I agree that they were magnificent in the way in which they carried out the rescue under difficult circumstances. It required huge bravery. The hon. Gentleman went on to...

I thank the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) for his constructive comments and join him in congratulating the RAF crew. I agree that they were magnificent in the way in which they carried out the rescue under difficult circumstances. It required huge bravery. The hon. Gentleman went on to...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) for his constructive comments. I am afraid that the Western Morning News is not normally served with my breakfast. Clearly, I shall have to put that right in future. I have not read the report to which the hon....

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) for his constructive comments. I am afraid that the Western Morning News is not normally served with my breakfast. Clearly, I shall have to put that right in future. I have not read the report to which the hon....

I understand my hon. Friend’s concern over the issue. He and the unions with which he often works have made representations to me about the issue previously. I can tell him—perhaps I should also have said this in response to the question from the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen)—that...

I understand my hon. Friend’s concern over the issue. He and the unions with which he often works have made representations to me about the issue previously. I can tell him—perhaps I should also have said this in response to the question from the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen)—that...

First, I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for the way in which he has represented constituents and for his constructive approach to the issue. None of us would have liked this type of accident in our constituency, and he could have been forgiven for getting angry about it, but...

First, I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for the way in which he has represented constituents and for his constructive approach to the issue. None of us would have liked this type of accident in our constituency, and he could have been forgiven for getting angry about it, but...

Statement on the events leading to the beaching of MSC Napoli at Lyme Bay.

Statement on the events leading to the beaching of MSC Napoli at Lyme Bay.

This statement is to inform the House of the events surrounding the beaching of the MSC Napoli at Lyme Bay, east of Sidmouth. The chain of events began on the morning of 18 January. During severe weather conditions, the MSC Napoli, a UK-registered vessel, experienced difficulties on the French side...

This statement is to inform the House of the events surrounding the beaching of the MSC Napoli at Lyme Bay, east of Sidmouth. The chain of events began on the morning of 18 January. During severe weather conditions, the MSC Napoli, a UK-registered vessel, experienced difficulties on the French side...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department monitors the ship-to-ship transfer of oil and other chemicals within UK harbour limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department monitors the ship-to-ship transfer of oil and other chemicals within UK harbour limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the compliance of the consenting regime for ship-to-ship transfer of oil in UK territorial waters with UK Government responsibilities under the EU habitats directive, with particular reference to (a) the assessment of plans or projects likely to have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the compliance of the consenting regime for ship-to-ship transfer of oil in UK territorial waters with UK Government responsibilities under the EU habitats directive, with particular reference to (a) the assessment of plans or projects likely to have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is by which regulation (a) 48 and (b) 49 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) is applied to assess the implications for European wildlife sites of ship-to-ship transfers of oil and other chemicals (i) in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is by which regulation (a) 48 and (b) 49 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) is applied to assess the implications for European wildlife sites of ship-to-ship transfers of oil and other chemicals (i) in...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I thank the House and the Opposition parties for the constructive and helpful way in which they have approached the Bill. It was deliberately made a short and focused Bill to speed its passage through Parliament. The...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I thank the House and the Opposition parties for the constructive and helpful way in which they have approached the Bill. It was deliberately made a short and focused Bill to speed its passage through Parliament. The...

I am always impressed by the ingenuity that hon. Members use to secure an opportunity to make a specific point that is completely irrelevant to the business on the Order Paper. The hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) should be proud of the ingenuity that he has shown on this...

I am always impressed by the ingenuity that hon. Members use to secure an opportunity to make a specific point that is completely irrelevant to the business on the Order Paper. The hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) should be proud of the ingenuity that he has shown on this...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) for his interest in the Bill, and I assure him that I understand what he is trying to get at. The Government take every bit as seriously as he does the need to enforce the national legislation that implements...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) for his interest in the Bill, and I assure him that I understand what he is trying to get at. The Government take every bit as seriously as he does the need to enforce the national legislation that implements...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Bill (HL). Report stage and Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Passed.

Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Bill (HL). Report stage and Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Passed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which regions he expects will receive support from the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme to deal with congestion; and what the nature of the support will be in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which regions he expects will receive support from the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme to deal with congestion; and what the nature of the support will be in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the environmental consequences arising from the loss at sea of the Ece and its cargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the environmental consequences arising from the loss at sea of the Ece and its cargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to prevent ships at sea spilling oil since the Sea Empress oil spill; and what further steps he plans to take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to prevent ships at sea spilling oil since the Sea Empress oil spill; and what further steps he plans to take.