Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an estimate of the number of P&O Ferries employees on furlough who will be made redundant by the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement.
My Department’s officials and I have been working closely with operators across the maritime sector including P&O Ferries, to understand the impacts and challenges they face from the global COVID-19 crisis. The Department recognises the contribution UK seafarers make to the economy and we remain committed to supporting them.
The government has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures to support businesses and employees through the Covid-19 pandemic, worth £350 billion. This package includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) which will continue until the end of October.
On May 11 P&O issued notice that a 45-day statutory consultation period would commence over plans to make 1,100 staff redundant. The consultation covers all staff who work for P&O both on shore and in seafaring roles regardless of whether they are currently furloughed or not.