Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to prepare for the enforcement of the Seafarers Wages Act 2023.

The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 received Royal Assent in March 2023. There are offences under the Act for operators providing a false and misleading declaration, operating a service inconsistently with a declaration, harbour authorities not complying with their duties under the Act, and for harbour authorities and operators who do not provide information when requested under the Act. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be responsible for enforcement of these offences and has powers of inspection under the Act to allow them to investigate.