§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the status is of the four ships from the US ghost fleet sent to the UK for decommissioning. [150029]
§ Mr. MorleyThe four ships are currently being stored at Hartlepool. Conditions attached to the site's waste management licence prevent any dismantling work on the ships. The site is inspected by the Environment Agency on a fortnightly basis.
§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what explanation she has received from(a) the US authorities and (b) the US Marine Administration on why warnings given by the Environment Agency on (i) 3 October 2003, (ii) 8 October 2003 and (iii) 10 October 2003 that the four ships from the US ghost fleet should not set out for the UK were not heeded. [150032]
§ Mr. MorleyDiscussions with the US authorities and the US Marine Administration which occurred once the vessels had already left the US concentrated on securing the objectives of safety and environmental protection on the vessels. It was considered that temporary storage in Hartlepool best met those objectives. Consequently, no explanation in relation to warnings has been sought or given.