My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) has made the following Ministerial Statement. This Statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC ““Napoli””. Since the ship was beached in Lyme Bay on 20 January, an effective salvage...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) has made the following Ministerial Statement. This Statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC ““Napoli””. Since the ship was beached in Lyme Bay on 20 January, an effective salvage...

This statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC Napoli. Since the ship was beached in Lyme Bay on 20 January, an effective salvage operation has removed almost all of the fuel oil and all of the containers from the ship. The...

This statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC Napoli. Since the ship was beached in Lyme Bay on 20 January, an effective salvage operation has removed almost all of the fuel oil and all of the containers from the ship. The...

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which ferry operators and routes across the southern North Sea and Dover straits offer services for (a) roll-on roll-off freight; (b) unaccompanied trailers; and (c) unaccompanied swap bodies or containers; and how many daily services each provide for these categories of freight.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which ferry operators and routes across the southern North Sea and Dover straits offer services for (a) roll-on roll-off freight; (b) unaccompanied trailers; and (c) unaccompanied swap bodies or containers; and how many daily services each provide for these categories of freight.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which ferry operators and routes across the southern North Sea and Dover straits offer services for (a) roll-on roll-off freight; (b) unaccompanied trailers; and (c) unaccompanied swap bodies or containers; and how many daily services each provide for these categories of freight.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which ferry operators and routes across the southern North Sea and Dover straits offer services for (a) roll-on roll-off freight; (b) unaccompanied trailers; and (c) unaccompanied swap bodies or containers; and how many daily services each provide for these categories of freight.

Whether they have plans to accommodate prisoners in freight containers; if so, whether these would be insulated and provided with windows; and how many prisoners would be housed in a standard 20-foot-long container under these plans.

Whether they have plans to accommodate prisoners in freight containers; if so, whether these would be insulated and provided with windows; and how many prisoners would be housed in a standard 20-foot-long container under these plans.

This statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC Napoli and follows on from my previous written statement, issued on 25 January, as well as the oral statement I made on 1 February. Since my last statement, work has continued on removing...

This statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC Napoli and follows on from my previous written statement, issued on 25 January, as well as the oral statement I made on 1 February. Since my last statement, work has continued on removing...

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport (Stephen Ladyman) has made the following Ministerial Statement. This Statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC ““Napoli”” and follows on from my previous Written Statement, issued on 25 January, as well as...

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport (Stephen Ladyman) has made the following Ministerial Statement. This Statement is to update the House on the progress of the salvage operation for the MSC ““Napoli”” and follows on from my previous Written Statement, issued on 25 January, as well as...

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...

May I thank the Minister for the effective way in which he has kept my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire), me and the hon. Member for South Dorset (Jim Knight) informed about the matter? I visited the beaches affected in West Dorset last week, and I...

May I thank the Minister for the effective way in which he has kept my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire), me and the hon. Member for South Dorset (Jim Knight) informed about the matter? I visited the beaches affected in West Dorset last week, and I...

I am grateful to the Minister for allowing me to see an advance copy of his statement. He has taken a close personal interest in this matter from the beginning. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) whose commitment as the constituency...

I am grateful to the Minister for allowing me to see an advance copy of his statement. He has taken a close personal interest in this matter from the beginning. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) whose commitment as the constituency...

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,...

May I also thank the Minister for an advance copy of his statement and echo other hon. Members’ sentiments about the role of the RAF? As has been said, the catastrophe could have been much greater. Has the Minister read the interview in today’s Western Morning News with Robin Middleton,...

May I also thank the Minister for an advance copy of his statement and echo other hon. Members’ sentiments about the role of the RAF? As has been said, the catastrophe could have been much greater. Has the Minister read the interview in today’s Western Morning News with Robin Middleton,...

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...

Why not?

Why not?

May I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Interests as the convenor of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers parliamentary group? The House is now aware that the vessel was British-flagged and that it was grounded in 2001. Is the Minister...

May I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Interests as the convenor of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers parliamentary group? The House is now aware that the vessel was British-flagged and that it was grounded in 2001. Is the Minister...

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....

As the local Member of Parliament, may I pay tribute to the excellence of the contractors working around the clock on the beach in Branscombe who have already removed 50 tonnes of scrap metal and have 100 tonnes to go? The Minister is absolutely right: it should be said loudly...

As the local Member of Parliament, may I pay tribute to the excellence of the contractors working around the clock on the beach in Branscombe who have already removed 50 tonnes of scrap metal and have 100 tonnes to go? The Minister is absolutely right: it should be said loudly...

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...

The Minister rightly praised the RAF and the coastguard, but he was remiss in not congratulating the salvors who are working 24 hours a day. But for their fantastic work, the disaster in Lyme bay would have been much worse. Given the history of the vessel, why was it not...

The Minister rightly praised the RAF and the coastguard, but he was remiss in not congratulating the salvors who are working 24 hours a day. But for their fantastic work, the disaster in Lyme bay would have been much worse. Given the history of the vessel, why was it not...