Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help encourage more women to enter the maritime industry.

I am determined to see more women entering the maritime industry and taking advantage of the many and wide-ranging career opportunities that the maritime sector has to offer, at sea and on shore.

That is why the Department for Transport has been working very closely with the Task Force set up by Maritime UK in 2018 to improve gender diversity. The first output of that task force has been the women in maritime pledge that commits maritime companies to building an employment culture that actively supports and celebrates gender diversity, at all levels in their organisation. Over 100 companies have signed up the pledge already. And to move participating organisations from that show of intent to solid action for change, a charter follows on that commits signatory companies to take specific actions to improve gender diversity in exchange of help in the form of toolkits.

In addition to this, the Department for Transport is funding 10 roadshows for girls only across the country. The roadshows will be delivered by 1851 Trust later in the year. They will enable up to 1,400 young women of ages between 10 and 14 years old to learn about STEM studies and maritime careers.