Contributions
630 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSeaborne FreightIt is my view that, as we move towards leaving the European Union, preparing for all eventualities is a matter of extreme urgency, which is also the advice that my Department has…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. I give him an absolute assurance that I will continue that work. Frankly, the tragedy is that the Labour party seems to have…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightSadly, what was unforeseeable is the attitude of many hon. Members, mostly Opposition Members, towards the Prime Minister’s sensible agreement. The agreement meets all their…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightI am very grateful for my hon. Friend’s comments. I reiterate that we are looking to involve other ports across the country as we make preparations for an eventuality that I hope…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightWe have made it very clear to the House that queues will be caused if the French seek to impose maximum control and put in place limited checks. Why on earth does the hon.…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightI give my hon. Friend that assurance. We are working with both organisations, and we are also having detailed discussions with the French. The leadership in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightThat is an absurd question that does not merit an answer either.08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightIt is my belief that Operation Brock will prevent the closure of the M20. That is my prime concern—what happened in 2015 should not be repeated. I think there is sufficient…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightThere is a complete lack of understanding of business models on the Opposition Benches. Opposition Members should understand that when they go on holiday next summer there is a…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightMy hon. Friend is absolutely right; that is normal, and we do not actually do enough of it. The Government are frequently criticised for contracting only with big business and not…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightI am not going to comment on individual tax affairs. All I am going to say is that due diligence was carried out into the participants in this business and no reason was found why…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightCertainly one part of the no deal preparations that we are now going through—HMRC is very actively engaged in this—is about the declaration processes that businesses would need to…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightWe have had detailed discussions with the French. I am very optimistic that they have the same ambition that we do, and they are putting in place plans to ensure that happens. I…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightI am not sharing, nor is it my responsibility to share, the company’s commercial information. I simply remind the hon. Gentleman that no money will change hands unless the company…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightMy officials have had detailed discussions with the management team and have gone through their plans in detail. My hon. Friend might have seen the article in Lloyd’s List , which…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightOn incoming freight, we intend not to put in place complex checks at the border. We have been clear all along that the Government’s priority, apart from security, will be to…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightWhat I have done is insist on a highly substantial commercial arrangement with two very established cross-channel ferry operators and given a small amount of business to a new…08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightThe company has told my Department in great detail about its plans, which are being finalised commercially. We are confident that the firm will deliver the service.08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightMy officials and I have confidence in the deliverability of the service, but if the firm fails to deliver it, we do not pay.08 Jan 2019HANSARDSeaborne FreightTwo things: first, I think it would be wrong to block Brexit. Secondly, I think it is right that the Government prepare for all eventualities. They would be accused of being…08 Jan 2019