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.

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.