Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the volume of trade between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government uses a range of programmes and levers to increase the volume of trade between UK and Sri Lanka. These include the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which cuts tariffs and simplifies trading rules for Sri Lankan exporters. The Government also works in Sri Lanka to promote UK trade, investment, trade policy objectives and export finance overseas. This is spearheaded by His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) to South Asia.
These are complemented by regular Government-to-Government engagement, including the annual UK-Sri Lanka Strategic Dialogue, one of the official mechanisms for discussion of trade-related issues and promoting areas of mutual interest.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Insolvency Service has concluded the investigation into P&O Ferries' dismissal of 786 seafarers on 17 March 2022.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Insolvency Service’s civil investigation into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries remains ongoing. No further comment or information can be provided at this time.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential merits of establishing minimum wage corridors for seafarers working on ships between the UK and France.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The department works closely with the Department for Transport at official level on topics surrounding seafarers’ wages. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what resources the Insolvency Service has committed to its civil investigation of P&O Ferries; and what steps her Department is taking to monitor the investigation.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Insolvency Service’s civil investigation into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries remains ongoing. As such, it would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of the investigation.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 14 of the Government response to the Consultation on the Statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement, published on 19th February 2024, whether seafarers will be eligible for the protective award for non-compliance with collective consultation requirements.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The rights of seafarers under employment law depend in part on whether they fall within the jurisdiction of the UK (or Great Britain). Ultimately this will be determined by the courts and tribunals.
Whether seafarers have the right to collective consultation about proposed redundancies under section 188 and the following sections of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 ("the 1992 Act") is likely to depend on whether the establishment where they work has sufficient connection with Great Britain. This position is not affected by government plans to add the protective award to Schedule A2 of the 1992 Act.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has received representations on the Insolvency Service’s procedure for investigating (a) criminal and (b) civil offences by UK registered companies owned by overseas entities.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Department is making enquires to determine whether such representations in respect of the Insolvency Service's procedures have been received. Any representations will be responded to as is appropriate.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the updated guidance on Chapter 17, Section 4: Continental Shelf Workers of the Immigration Rules published by the Home Office on 12 April 2023, whether Continental Shelf Workers on contracts in the UK oil and gas sector are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation applies to those who work or ordinarily work in the UK and those Seafarers exploiting and exploring the UK part of the continental shelf are entitled to the UK National Minimum Wage, as well as to some workers on UK-registered ships. We have a proud record of extending the NMW to seafarers.
In October 2020, legislation came into force to extend the right to the minimum wage to all seafarers on domestic voyages in the UK territorial sea and to those working in the UK part of the continental shelf.
We will continue to consider the needs of all sectors of the economy and take measures where these are needed, taking an evidence-based approach.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the guidance on Chapter 17, Section 4: Continental Shelf Workers of the Immigration Rules published by the Home Office on 12 April 2023, whether Continental Shelf workers on contracts in Renewable Energy Zones are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation applies to those who work or ordinarily work in the UK and those Seafarers exploiting and exploring the UK part of the continental shelf are entitled to the UK National Minimum Wage, as well as to some workers on UK-registered ships. We have a proud record of extending the NMW to seafarers.
In October 2020, legislation came into force to extend the right to the minimum wage to all seafarers on domestic voyages in the UK territorial sea and to those working in the UK part of the continental shelf.
We will continue to consider the needs of all sectors of the economy and take measures where these are needed, taking an evidence-based approach.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance her Department issues on the domestic employment laws applicable to (a) seafarers and (b) other workers carrying out work on offshore wind farms designated by the Renewable Energy Zone (Designation of Area) Order 2004.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Government is committed to the protection of workers’ rights for seafarers and those in offshore employment. In 2020 the Government extended minimum wage entitlement to seafarers on domestic voyages.
Seafarers can access ‘Seafarer working and living rights’ Pages for clear guidance on their rights.
We will continue to review the needs of the renewable energy sector and its workforce - and take action when needed - as we progress towards reaching Net Zero by 2050.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will review the application of the national minimum wage to seafarers working in renewable energy zones.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation applies to those who work or ordinarily work in the UK, as well as to some workers on UK-registered ships. We have a proud record of ex-tending the NMW to seafarers.
In October 2020, legislation came into force to extend the minimum wage to all seafarers on domestic voyages in the UK territorial sea or UK section of the continental shelf.
We will continue to consider the needs of all sectors of the economy and take measures where these are needed, taking an evidence-based approach if any further changes to the NMW legislation are needed.