Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what representations her Department has received on the potential exemption of maritime key workers from covid-19 quarantine restrictions, in line with previous exemptions granted.

Maritime workers regularly enter the country in the course of their work which is critical to the continued supply of goods into the UK. Restrictions on the movement of seafarers are likely to undermine effective UK freight supply, the attractiveness to trade, and with it both post-EU UK economic objectives and pandemic response.

Seamen and masters (as defined in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995) and inspectors and surveyors of ships (as defined in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995) in the United Kingdom (including the Devolved Administrations) have exemptions from 10 day self isolation when entering the UK.