Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Feb 2016
Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
"I agree with the Minister’s points about the improvements that have taken place, but they would still not prevent things such as the Lysblink Seaways, which ran aground on Ardnamurchan, or indeed the Costa Concordia. That is the point. Even with the improvements that have been made, there is still …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Feb 2016
Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
"I am listening very carefully to the hon. Gentleman, who is being very considerate with his time. He is identifying that there is a risk from the removal of the ETV. We already know that a grounding has taken place at Ardnamurchan. We already know that the MCA has referred …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Feb 2016
Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
"We welcome the announcement the Government have made this evening. That is the right thing to do. What I would say to the Minister, however, is that we explained what happened in Ardnamurchan. The ETV cannot get from Orkney in a reasonable time. In the light of the decision the …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Emergency Tug Vessels (West Coast of Scotland)
Written Question
Monday 15th February 2016
Asked by:
Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party - Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department plans to hold with colleagues in the Scottish Government on the environmental proposal for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Cromarty firth.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Port of Cromarty Firth Oil Transfer Licence (OTL) application, which ran from 10 December 2015 to 8 February 2016 was sent to Scottish Government officials directly through Marine Scotland, and to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Highland Council, in order to seek their views.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the Competent Authority that assesses all applications for OTLs, and the MCA has regular contact with the Scottish Government and their appropriate officials on a number of issues, including ship-to-ship licencing. The MCA has worked closely with them on previous OTL applications and the development of the policy itself.
With the public consultation having just ended, the assessment phase will begin and the MCA looks forward to continuing this cooperation in relation to the Cromarty Firth proposal, prior to any decision being made.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 16 Dec 2015
Community Transport
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Nuttall. Let me also thank the hon. Member for Erewash (Maggie Throup) for securing this important debate.
We have shed a lot of light today on the benefits for all our communities from community transport. Let me also thank the …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Community Transport
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 16 Dec 2015
Community Transport
"I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that point and I agree with him. It is one reason why the Scottish Government have integrated social care into health care. We understand the importance of bringing the two together. We have made enormous steps to deliver on that and …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Community Transport
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 16 Dec 2015
Community Transport
"Social care certainly has a leisure element. Transport needs are associated with that and it is important that community transport plays its part. Important discussions are taking place and include, for example, hospital transport to the new hospital in Broadford. That is part of the mix we are discussing.
In …..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Community Transport
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 16 Dec 2015
Community Transport
"Will the Minister address the comments that my hon. Friend the Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Dr Monaghan) and I made about VAT exemption for community transport vehicles?..."Ian Blackford - View Speech
View all Ian Blackford (SNP - Ross, Skye and Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Community Transport