Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to provide new statutory powers to British ports to refuse access to regular ferry services which do not pay their crew the National Minimum Wage.

Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible into Parliament that intends to make access to UK ports conditional on the payment of seafarers equivalent to National Minimum Wage for vessels visiting UK ports on a frequent and scheduled basis. This is to close gaps in legislation to ensure seafarers with a close connection to the UK receive this pay protection. We will shortly be publishing a public consultation on this, setting out full details of the proposals, and seeking views on the scope and enforcement.