Debates between Chris Grayling and Alison Thewliss during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Tue 8th Jan 2019

Seaborne Freight

Debate between Chris Grayling and Alison Thewliss
Tuesday 8th January 2019

(5 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

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Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I 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 Paris, and the leadership of the port and the tunnel on the French side, are as keen as we are to see fluidity continue through those ports. We are taking contingency measures, but our prime focus is on making sure that trade flows freely, whatever checks are required.

Alison Thewliss Portrait Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)
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The Transport Secretary’s colleague the Home Secretary has been trying to stop people getting across the channel while the Transport Secretary is busy contracting with companies that have no ferries at all. Is his next whizzo move to contract people who are doing people smuggling in dinghies?

Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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That is an absurd question that does not merit an answer either.