Seaborne Freight Debate

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Department: Department for Transport
Monday 11th February 2019

(5 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)
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May I press my noble friend?

Lord Berkeley Portrait Lord Berkeley (Lab)
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My Lords—

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
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No we have had two speakers from that side.

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None Portrait A noble Lord
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Lord Berkeley!

Lord Berkeley Portrait Lord Berkeley
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The Minister seeks to blame Arklow for this withdrawal, but the Irish Times says something rather different. It states that Arklow was never “a backer”, did not have “any formal agreement” with Seaborne and was not “a contract partner”. Who is telling the truth?

Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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My Lords, the contract was with Seaborne Freight. I have read out extensively the reassurances provided by Arklow, which are set out in the letter published on GOV.UK. The contract, however, was with Seaborne and we entered into that given the reassurances that we had.