THE row over plans to bring 13 toxic former US Navy ships to the North-East will be discussed in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker has tabled questions asking what action has been taken by the Government to protect British waters.

Mr Baker joined the row after two more vessels from the ageing US Navy reserve fleet left their berths in Newport, Virginia, and headed for a Teesside scrapyard.

A submarine tender called the Canopus and a navigation instrument ship called the Compass Island, both part of the James River Ghost Fleet, were nudged out to sea by four tugs to begin a three-week journey across the Atlantic.

The ships follow another two that left last week for the Able UK yard, at Graythorp, Hartlepool, as part of a £11m deal between the recycling company and the US Maritime Administration, which manages the reserve fleet.

More than 70 of the ships - which contain heavy oil, asbestos and PCB chemicals - have deteriorated and are said to be a hazard.

Two environmental groups have filed lawsuits against the Maritime Administration, saying the government is avoiding federal laws by allowing the ships to be scrapped overseas.

Although the court case proceeds next week in Washington, a federal judge has allowed four ships to leave as part of a pilot programme.

Mr Baker said "It is extraordinary that more of these decrepit, and potentially dangerous, ships are on their way to Britain when there is no planning permission for a dry dock to receive them.

"There remain many worrying unanswered questions regarding the state of these ships and their contents.

"The Government must explain why it has seemingly taken no action to protect British waters from the toxic ghost fleet.''