Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his department has made on the Post Implementation Review of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011; and whether that review has covered the matter of nationality-based pay discrimination against seafarers employed on UK-registered ships.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department plans to publish a Call for Evidence. It will cover the regulations under review including those relating specifically to seafarer pay on UK-Registered ships.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many suppliers his Department has excluded from procurement on the grounds of (a) fraud, (b) corruption and (c) other grounds under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 from 2015 to 2022.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport does not collect this data as a matter of course or catalogue it in a central database.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Government Equalities Office on the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department has not had any recent discussions with the Government Equalities Office that relate to this legislation.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the impact that prohibiting nationality based pay discrimination would have on seafarer (a) welfare and (b) employment conditions in the shipping industry since 17 March 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department is in the process of conducting a Post Implementation Review of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011. This will include an analysis of nationality-based pay discrimination and the potential effects of eliminating it within UK jurisdiction.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Seafarer Statistics published by his department on 28 February 2023, what steps he is taking to increase the (a) provision and (b) uptake of seafarer apprenticeships.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
There are a wide range of apprenticeships available across the maritime and marine sectors. These include seafaring apprenticeships for Able Seafarer Deck, Maritime Electrical/Mechanical Mechanic, Maritime Caterer and Officer of the Watch (Near Coastal). All have been developed in recent years.
The Department continues to work with the Maritime Skills Alliance and maritime stakeholders on the development and promotion of maritime apprenticeships and with the Careers Taskforce and Merchant Navy Training Board on the promotion of maritime careers at sea.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an estimate of how many seafarers unlawfully dismissed by P&O Ferries on 17 March 2022 have taken up employment outside the maritime sector.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Transport does not hold this information.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of UK-resident ratings employed in the ferry industry.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Measures such as the amendments to the national minimum wage and the points-based visa system will increase opportunities for UK seafarers in the UK domestic market and set a minimum salary level.
We remain committed to the training of ratings. A range of apprenticeships are available for UK ratings, all have been established over recent years. Apprenticeships policy is devolved so there are different ratings apprenticeships available in England and Scotland. In England, Able Seafarer (Deck), Maritime Electrical/Mechanical Mechanic and Maritime Caterer are offered. In Scotland, Deck Rating, Engine Room Rating and Hospitality with Maritime Enhancements are available.
The Department has also asked the Maritime Skills Commission to undertake a Ratings Review to assess the current situation for UK ratings training. The Review is currently underway.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2022 to Question 92231 on P&O Ferries: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, whether his Department has had discussions with representatives of P&O Ferries on the return of furlough funding since 28 November 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
As per the response of 4 July 2022, reiterated on 28 November 2022, the government has repeatedly called for P&O Ferries to repay its furlough funding.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2022 to Question 73004 on P&O Ferries: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, whether his Department has had any discussions with representatives of P&O Ferries about the return of furlough funding since 25 October 2022.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department has not had recent discussions with P&O Ferries’ representatives on the repayment of furlough funding. As per the response of 4 July 2022, the government has repeatedly called for P&O Ferries to repay its furlough funding, and we have emphasised this at every opportunity.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department’s contract with P&O Ferries awarded through the Freight Capacity Framework Agreement in October 2019 is active.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Since termination of the Government Secured Freight Capacity contracts, no further such contract has been awarded to P&O Ferries. There is no intent to let further contracts under the Framework Agreement.