Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to ensure a minimum number of UK ratings and officers employed on all ferry operators docking in UK ports.

We have announced a nine-point plan to address the appalling way P&O have acted. This includes closing legal loopholes which allow ferry operators to undercut British workers.

The measures will also step up enforcement of existing laws, financially penalise companies which fire and rehire, and work with international partners to create minimum wage corridors.

We will work together to explore the creation of minimum wage corridors between our nations, as well as asking unions and operators to agree a common level of seafarer protection on these routes.