Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new employment contract for maritime surveyors employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA); what consultancy fees were paid by the MCA in drawing up that contract; what consultation was undertaken with MCA staff on that contract; and when that contract will come into effect.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Survey and Inspection Transformation Programme will review the terms and conditions for Marine Surveyors and will consider the appropriateness of the current employment contract arrangements.

The MCA did not pay any consultancy fees in drawing up these contracts. As the contract applies to all Department for Transport (DfT) staff, both DfT and the MCA consulted the Trade Unions on the new contract. The Unions balloted their members and accepted the contract. This became effective from August 2012.