Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) the provision of and (b) intercept times for emergency towing vessels around the coast of the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has commissioned a study to review the risks presented to and from shipping within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone and to assess the availability and adequacy of emergency towage arrangements. An analysis of Hazard Contact time and Intercept time is integral to this study.
The study is being undertaken by Fraser-Nash Consultancy Ltd, and the final report will be delivered to the MCA later this month. Further distribution of the report is anticipated in the Autumn.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on securing ferry space for exports of (a) Scottish seafood and (b) other perishable or time-sensitive goods in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
The Government-secured freight capacity is intended to support the supply of Category 1 goods which are currently reliant on the Short Straits. A list of types of goods in this category has been published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/critical-goods-for-government-secured-freight-capacity.