MANDELSON SHOULD THINK AGAIN ON GHOST SHIPS - BAKER

1.49.31pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Nov 2003

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Spokesman Norman Baker today slammed Peter Mandelson's comments that Friends of the Earth were 'crying wolf' over the ghost ships sent to be dismantled in the UK.

He said:

"It is extraordinary that Peter Mandelson should spend so much of his time before the Commons Environment Select Committee attacking Friends of the Earth.

"They have raised legitimate concerns. They are concerns that the public shares. They are concerns that Mr Mandelson's own constituents share.

"Peter Mandelson would do better to attack a system which allows decrepit, un-seaworthy vessels to be transported thousands of miles to be dismantled here, rather than at a recycling facility in the US.

"He is out of line with best environmental practice and out of line with the Environment Agency's concerns."