Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 20 Apr 2017
Emissions and Vehicle Type Approval
"It is a pleasure to appear under your chairmanship, Mr McCabe. I congratulate the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman) and her Committee on its excellent report. Her speech set out lucidly the problems that have been uncovered.
Clearly the actions of the company in this matter are utterly …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 20 Apr 2017
Emissions and Vehicle Type Approval
"I see absolutely no reason why it cannot. Obviously the American consumer organisations are slightly different from our own and seem to be better at getting things into court and sorted out much more quickly than is the case under our system, but that should not be the case. Volkswagen, …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 20 Apr 2017
Emissions and Vehicle Type Approval
"I was just about to make that very point. It is not within the power of the individual to take on these companies. It seemed clear to me from Mr Willis’s attitude when he last appeared before the Committee that Volkswagen would try to defend its actions, if it says …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jun 2015
Network Rail
"I note the change in the structure of Network Rail announced by the right hon. Gentleman today. Given that Network Rail still plays a part in Scotland’s rail network, will he consult Scottish Ministers before implementing those changes? Most of the changes in railways refer only to England, and I …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 26 Jan 2015
Infrastructure Bill [Lords]
"Having heard the honeyed tones in which the Minister opened the debate for the Government, I feel a bit guilty about having to say that I still have severe reservations about parts of the Bill.
Not all the Bill applies to Scotland, but the main part of it that does …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 26 Jan 2015
Infrastructure Bill [Lords]
"That is one of the few things on which the hon. Gentleman and I agree. I made that exact point earlier. My concern is that, currently, there are a few existing licences, but not many. The Department of Energy and Climate Change could grant licences between the current time and …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 26 Jan 2015
Infrastructure Bill [Lords]
"I note what the Minister says, and obviously I am keen that the powers be transferred as soon as possible, but does she not acknowledge that, as I and the Scottish Government have said on numerous occasions, there is a gap? Scotland has planning and environmental powers, but will not, …..."Mike Weir - View Speech
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Written Question
Thursday 15th January 2015
Asked by:
Mike Weir (Scottish National Party - Angus)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is taking to investigate the sinking of the cargo vessel, Cemfjord, in the Pentland Firth.
Answered by John Hayes
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has commenced an investigation of the accident in cooperation with the Cypriot, Danish and Polish accident investigation authorities. Initial indications are that Cemfjord capsized suddenly, soon after entering an area of extremely violent seas to the north-west of the island of Stroma; the weather and sea conditions in the Pentland Firth at the time were atrocious. It has also been established that the vessel did not transmit any form of distress signal.
Key areas of investigation include: why the vessel foundered so rapidly; why none of the crew seem to have survived; and why it took so long for the alarm to be raised. To help answer some of these questions, the MAIB will be conducting a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) survey of the wreck when weather conditions allow.
Decisions about any further investigation of the wreck in situ cannot be made until the results of the ROV survey have been assessed. The evidence collected thus far suggests no reason to consider raising the vessel and any attempt would be fraught with such technical and practical challenges that it may not be possible to do so.
Written Question
Thursday 15th January 2015
Asked by:
Mike Weir (Scottish National Party - Angus)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the recovery of bodies from the sunken cargo vessel, Cemfjord, in the Pentland Firth.
Answered by John Hayes
No representations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency about recovering bodies from the CEMFJORD.
Written Question
Thursday 15th January 2015
Asked by:
Mike Weir (Scottish National Party - Angus)
Question
to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the length of time taken by the emergency towing vessel to respond to the foundering of the Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth.
Answered by John Hayes
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has considered their coordination of the response to the foundering of the CEMFJORD. The correct search and rescue (SAR) resources were sent at the correct time once Her Majesty’s Coastguard had received a report of a capsized hull. The SAR response included four lifeboats, two helicopters and other vessels in the Pentland Firth area.
The emergency towing vessel was not sent as part of the SAR response but to mark the position of the capsized ship and to offer expert advice on any salvage effort.