Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials from the UK Chamber of Shipping have been seconded to work in his Department since May 2010; and in what areas of maritime policy each such member of staff has been so employed.

No officials from the UK Chamber of Shipping have been seconded to work in the Department for Transport since May 2010. The Department works very closely with the UK Chamber on many key aspects of maritime policy, and discussions with them are on an ongoing basis. The Department is also keen to increase secondment opportunities more generally with transport industries, both encouraging incoming secondees to the Department, and outward secondments for staff.