To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports Group Ltd on proposals to house asylum seekers in the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports Group Ltd on proposals to house asylum seekers in the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with Wirral Council on the potential use of a vessel at the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey to house asylum seekers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with Wirral Council on the potential use of a vessel at the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey to house asylum seekers.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

I am grateful to have finally secured an Adjournment debate on a matter of such great significance to my constituents and, I would hope, to all those who believe in the need for a more compassionate asylum policy. On 14 April, officers at Wirral Council were informed by Home Office...

I am grateful to have finally secured an Adjournment debate on a matter of such great significance to my constituents and, I would hope, to all those who believe in the need for a more compassionate asylum policy. On 14 April, officers at Wirral Council were informed by Home Office...

My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech about the importance of compassion towards refugees in this country. My community has also accommodated many needy people. Does he agree that there needs to be more support from the Home Office in many cases? I raised a case with the Minister...

My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech about the importance of compassion towards refugees in this country. My community has also accommodated many needy people. Does he agree that there needs to be more support from the Home Office in many cases? I raised a case with the Minister...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I think this debate is all about dignity and respect, and I hope the Home Office and Ministers will be mindful of that.

The Government’s policy of using disused ferries, boats and barges to house refugees may satisfy the legal criteria of their statutory...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I think this debate is all about dignity and respect, and I hope the Home Office and Ministers will be mindful of that.

The Government’s policy of using disused ferries, boats and barges to house refugees may satisfy the legal criteria of their statutory...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley) for securing this debate. The concerns of Members

of this House and their constituents should be taken seriously, and they are being taken seriously. I will set out shortly the work we are doing and are looking to do...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mick Whitley) for securing this debate. The concerns of Members

of this House and their constituents should be taken seriously, and they are being taken seriously. I will set out shortly the work we are doing and are looking to do...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports on the potential housing of asylum seekers on a boat at its Wirral Waters development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports on the potential housing of asylum seekers on a boat at its Wirral Waters development.

Motion, That this House has considered regulation of ports and maximising economic and maritime potential on the Forth and the Clyde. Agreed to on question.

Motion, That this House has considered regulation of ports and maximising economic and maritime potential on the Forth and the Clyde. Agreed to on question.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered regulation of ports and maximising economic and maritime potential on the Forth and the Clyde.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ghani. As post-Brexit chaos has all too vividly shown, ports are a vital part of a nation’s infrastructure....

I beg to move,

That this House has considered regulation of ports and maximising economic and maritime potential on the Forth and the Clyde.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ghani. As post-Brexit chaos has all too vividly shown, ports are a vital part of a nation’s infrastructure....

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship for, I believe, the first time, Ms Ghani—a very great honour. I congratulate the hon. Member for East Lothian (Kenny MacAskill) on securing the debate, although I take issue with the rather gloomy picture he paints of ports and the wider...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship for, I believe, the first time, Ms Ghani—a very great honour. I congratulate the hon. Member for East Lothian (Kenny MacAskill) on securing the debate, although I take issue with the rather gloomy picture he paints of ports and the wider...

I am very grateful for your sage advice, Ms Ghani. The transportation of goods around the UK shoreline will be an increasingly important part of transport connectivity in this country.

I would also point to the investments that are being made to increase our port capacity. The hon. Member for East...

I am very grateful for your sage advice, Ms Ghani. The transportation of goods around the UK shoreline will be an increasingly important part of transport connectivity in this country.

I would also point to the investments that are being made to increase our port capacity. The hon. Member for East...

There is mounting concern on the Clyde that an active programme is being undertaken by Peel Ports, which owns both the Clydeport authority and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, to plough billions of pounds of investment into Merseyside at the expense of the Clyde, stifling investment in the Clyde’s port facilities. Will the Minister undertake an immediate investigation into anti-competitive practices in both of the UK’s two main west coast ports, as this is unacceptable?

There is mounting concern on the Clyde that an active programme is being undertaken by Peel Ports, which owns both the Clydeport authority and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, to plough billions of pounds of investment into Merseyside at the expense of the Clyde, stifling investment in the Clyde’s port facilities. Will the Minister undertake an immediate investigation into anti-competitive practices in both of the UK’s two main west coast ports, as this is unacceptable?

The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue. I am glad he has brought it to my attention and I am more than happy to have a meeting with him to discuss it further.

The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue. I am glad he has brought it to my attention and I am more than happy to have a meeting with him to discuss it further.

The hon. Lady is right to raise that issue. The Government work closely with Peel Ports because of the enormous amount of key infrastructure

and land that it owns. I will look carefully with the Secretary of State and the devolved authorities to see whether there is more that we can do in this instance.

The hon. Lady is right to raise that issue. The Government work closely with Peel Ports because of the enormous amount of key infrastructure

and land that it owns. I will look carefully with the Secretary of State and the devolved authorities to see whether there is more that we can do in this instance.

Q9

.

Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP):

The operators of Hunterston coal terminal in my constituency, Peel Ports group, has announced significant redundancies. How will the Prime Minister work with Peel Ports to explore alternative uses for the terminal which is suitable for imports and exports of a wide range of bulk solids, liquid products, and offshore decommissioning?

Q9

.

Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP):

The operators of Hunterston coal terminal in my constituency, Peel Ports group, has announced significant redundancies. How will the Prime Minister work with Peel Ports to explore alternative uses for the terminal which is suitable for imports and exports of a wide range of bulk solids, liquid products, and offshore decommissioning?