Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department applies the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention to the (a) merchant navy seafarers and (b) vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Ministry of Defence applies the Maritime Labour Convention in accordance with its application in UK Legislation. Where a Disapplication, Exemption or Derogation exists in UK legislation, then Secretary of State for Defence’s Policy on Health and Safety places the obligation on the Department to comply with outcomes at least as good as UK legislation.

This is coupled with the Defence Maritime Regulator as an independent Health, Safety and Environmental protection regulator to implement independent assurance of the implementation of legislation such as the Maritime Labour Convention and Merchant Shipping Act 1995.