About time too, Mr Morley: The Environment Agency has finally got its head around the 'Ghost Ships' saga by announcing it would be best to recycle the old US Navy vessels on Teesside.
"The best environmental option is to recycle them on site," Environment Minister Elliot Morley told the Commons yesterday.
This is the kind of clear language needed from the Government - and we only hope such decisiveness has not come too late.
We challenged Mr Morley to take swift action on this matter on December 9 last year, and goodness only knows why he has taken so long to get the subject into focus.
Now that he has, let's keep it that way. No more prevaricating; no more scare stories; just sensible, practical actions.
The ships are already in; let's hope Mr Morley's words give bureaucrats the direction they need to approve Able UK's plans to show the world that they can dismantle them safely. We can then all judge whether this should become a long-term industry for the Tees, potentially employing hundreds for years to come.
Kerbing crawlers: Today's report on the latest batch of shamed kerbcrawlers to be fined for their misdemeanours highlights important new legal powers enabling courts to ban those convicted from driving.
Judge James Prowse is a fair man, and because the offences in today's story took place before the new powers were introduced, he decided it would not be appropriate to use them this time.
But he warned that the banning powers would be appropriate for those travelling to Teesside to buy sex from now on. All judiciary should heed this advice as driving bans - on top of the adverse publicity we have pledged to give all kerbcrawlers - could help bring this trade under control.
