Concern Mounts Over US Ghost Ships
MPs were last night voicing growing concern over the fleet of US "ghost ships" arriving at a British port.
by Chris Smith, Epolitix
13 November 2003 – News that two former US Navy vessels had docked in Hartlepool was greeted with alarm.
The environment, food and rural affairs committee has announced it will quiz ministers at a hastily-arranged meeting next week.
The ships, which contain toxic waste and asbestos, have prompted a wave of local and national protests.
Officials from the Environment Agency and environment minister Elliot Morley will explain why licences were granted and then revoked for Able UK to dismantle 13 ships in a £11 million deal.
The firm claims it has the technical expertise to carry out the work. But a High Court injunction, led by the local council, prevents any dismantling work from taking place.
The two ships in Hartlepool are set to be joined by another two within days - but campaigners argue they should be sent back to the US.
Opposition spokesmen lined up to condemn the government's handling of the affair and piled the pressure on ministers.
Spelman: "Blair must admit his government have made a mistake"
The Conservative environment spokesman Caroline Spelman said the prime minister should use the visit by US president George W Bush to reject the ships.
"Blair must admit his government have made a mistake. They have gone against the people's wishes and made the decision without the correct planning permission in place," she said.
"The environment secretary has now said the boats will return to the US. Together they must make it happen."
Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said the government should never have allowed the ships to enter British waters. "The Department of Transport should have forbid their entry to British waters as the Portuguese authorities did," he said.
"Mrs Beckett must confirm that these ships will be sent back to the US. Their docking must not become a back door for their dismantlement in the UK."
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