§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to prevent a terrorist from stowing away on a cross-Channel ferry and, while the ferry is under way, sabotaging or placing an improvised explosive device on a vehicle carrying a hazardous load. [HL5]
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)There are a range of measures in place on ships engaged on providing international ferry services from the UK. Likewise, complementary measures are in place at the UK ports that the ferries serve. The measures are designed, among other things, to prevent unauthorised access to ferries and the introduction of weapons and explosives. The security measures required at any particular time are linked to the level of risk, as determined by the DfT and the Security Service.