Contributions
630 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry Contractsrose —05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry Contractsrose —05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsOnce again, the hon. Gentleman has conveniently forgotten that 90% of these contracts for the things on which the NHS is depending are with DFDS and Brittany Ferries. I wish that…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsI will give a very specific answer to that question: a Cabinet Committee.05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsI have to say that the management of the port of Dover have been exemplary for the last few weeks in co-operating with us, not only over this but in preparations for no deal. They…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsMr Speaker, I simply reiterate: the settlement that we have reached with Eurotunnel is going to pay for improved facilities at the border, to improve flow, to make sure that our…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsI am going to make some progress. I simply want to reiterate the point. We have taken the decisions. We collectively, in the Government, back in November; we collectively, a…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsThe deal that we have done is to pay for additional facilities at the border, to create a smoother flow at the border. That is something that we will benefit from at the borders.05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsIt was a challenge to the procurement process, on which I said I took detailed legal advice at the time of procuring, which I and my accounting officer took into account when…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsNone.05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsWe have been preparing for a no-deal exit for months and months. There was a particular reason, as I will set out in a moment, for this particular procurement at this particular…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsWe knew, in accelerating the procurement process, that there was a legal risk. That has been highlighted in the NAO report. However, it was my judgment, the judgment of my…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsWe took a collective decision, in the light of the legal advice, which was taken by me, by my accounting officer, and by those who approved this across the Government, and we did…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsI can absolutely confirm that, and I think it is absolutely right and proper that we took the steps necessary to ensure that continuity of supply. We did so with a collective…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsWe did not receive legal advice saying, “Do not do this.” We received legal advice saying that there was a risk in taking the approach, and we judged collectively across the…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsI am going to make a bit of progress, because I have given way many times. Let me touch briefly on the issue of Seaborne Freight, which was raised exhaustively by the hon. Member…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsAbsolutely. All that we have heard for months is, “Why are the Government getting this wrong?” but we have had no tangible or realistic plans from the Opposition. At every…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsAs I have explained to the House on several occasions, the Government entered into contracts with ferry operators to provide additional ferry capacity and services into the UK as…05 Mar 2019HANSARD EU Exit Preparations: Ferry ContractsWill the hon. Gentleman confirm to the House that the probation service contracts are running around £1 billion under budget?05 Mar 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Travel DisruptionHappily, I have never worked for GTR. I would say to my hon. Friend that, if there are specific concerns he wants to raise about the franchise, he is very welcome to write to me.…14 Feb 2019