Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the amount of sea time required by employee to qualify as an Able Seafarer (Deck) apprentice.

This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships. I have asked its Chief Executive, Sir Gerry Berragan, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.