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Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on whether the United States vessels now en route to Hartlepool should continue their voyage; what action she plans to take to manage the environmental risk posed by former United States naval vessels in British waters pending the resolution of the court proceedings due in December; what assessment she has made of the implications for the work of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the injunction obtained against Able UK by Friends of the Earth on 5th November; what representations the Government has made to the United States Marine Administration to secure the return of United States former naval vessels to the United States. - (Holding answer 10 November 2003).
Answer

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the Government's policy is on whether the United States vessels now en route to Hartlepool should continue their voyage; [137142] (2) what action she plans to take to manage the environmental risk posed by former United States naval vessels in British waters pending the resolution of the court proceedings due in December; [137700] (3) assessment she has made of the implications for the work of (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the injunction obtained against Able UK by Friends of the Earth on 5 November; [137702] (4) what representations the Government has made to the United States Marine Administration to secure the return of United States former naval vessels to the United States. [137701] Mr. Morley :[holding answer 10 November 2003]: Following discussions on Friday 7 November, between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Secretary Mineta of the US Department of Transportation, it has been decided that for safety reasons, the first two ships currently on the way to the UK will continue to Hartlepool for safe storage, pending return to the US. This decision was taken after consideration by the Environment Agency and Government Departments of alternative storage sites. No other site is able to take the ships safely at short notice. The US authorities have been told that the proposed shipment of these vessels to Hartlepool for dismantling cannot be completed consistent with international rules and Community law. In this situation the law requires the ships to be returned to the United States. However, the immediate return to the United States of the first two ships, which are now approaching the Channel, would be impracticable, not least because of concerns about the weather. When the ships arrive at Hartlepool, the Environment Agency will place requirements on them to ensure the environment is fully protected and that the ships remain ready for return to the USA. No work is permitted on the ships given the current court injunction. The UK Government and its Agencies continue to work intensively with the US authorities to examine the safety and liability concerns they have raised to proposals that the second pair of ships, currently in transit to the UK, return to the US, and are looking for rapid resolution of that question.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
413 c407-8W; 137142;137700;137702;137701
Session
2002-03
Subjects
Decommissioning Environment protection Environment Agency Injunctions Shipping Waste disposal Warships USA Tees Valley Hartlepool Friends of the Earth Able UK
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk