P&O Ferries

Jeremy Corbyn Excerpts
Monday 28th March 2022

(2 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts
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At a time like this, conversations take place across Government and across the devolved Administrations to consider what action we can take together.

Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Ind)
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I thank the Minister for his statement. I hope he introduces legislation very quickly. In that legislation, will he also take on board the scandal of the way seafarers are treated in international waters generally—they suffer from low wages, poor conditions and terrible working arrangements—which has been exposed by the P&O scandal? We need to address the issue of fairness and justice for all seafarers. As a major seafaring nation, we can take the lead on that.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts
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This country absolutely is a major seafaring nation and has taken the lead already; for example during the pandemic when we were the first country to declare seafarers as key workers and took the issue of their rights to the International Maritime Organization. I am very keen that we continue to take the lead. The right hon. Gentleman puts his finger on a number of really pertinent issues.