P&O Ferries

Rachael Maskell 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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I agree with the hon. Member that the way that the workers have been treated is absolutely not on. We have been absolutely clear about that and we are keen not on words but on action.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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What is worse is that DP World and P&O Ferries were prepared to put untrained crew and passengers on to those ships and for them to sail, which is completely against health and safety measures. There is therefore something at the core of the company’s culture that needs to be addressed and that must result in the licence being removed, because it is clearly prepared to be unsafe and break the law.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts
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I understand the hon. Lady’s concern. The thing that I hope will give her confidence is that we have the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in which I have full confidence; it is an outstanding safety regulator. It inspects all those ships and if they are not safe to sail, they will not sail.