Monday 28th February 2022

(2 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I am looking very closely at this with my colleague the Transport Secretary to get it addressed as soon as possible.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
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I have to tell the Foreign Secretary that time is not on her side. The NS Challenger is due to berth at 6 am on Wednesday. In the past hour the Secretary of State for Transport has written to all UK ports requesting them not to grant access to Russian vessels. That is a very welcome move, but the House will have noticed that he used the word “request” rather than “instruct”. Can the Foreign Secretary tell me now, or get me early information, that if the terminal operators at Flotta in Orkney refuse to berth the NS Challenger they will not be left financially exposed as a result?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I am looking at this issue urgently with the Transport Secretary and I will get back to the right hon. Gentleman with that information.