Addressing parliament’s transport committee, Shapps also repeated calls for the company’s chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite to resign.
P&O Ferries sparked outrage last month by nearly 800 workers via a Zoom call and replacing them with foreign agency staff earning an average £5.50 an hour. Asked whether P&O had “got away with it”, Shapps said there were several steps he was taking.
“I think they need to repay their furlough money, around £11 million," said Shapps. However, he stressed this was a matter for the company to decide.
Shapps said it was not right for P&O to break the law and claim government support.
