Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the pass rate for the Chief Mate Stability paper of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping exam in each of the last five years; whether he has had discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on the exam; and if he will discuss with the MCA potential steps to increase the pass rate.

The Chief Mate Stability paper is administered by Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). SQA formally hold pass rate statistics, but I am aware that the MCA continually monitor the exam pass rates and is currently working with the relevant industry representatives to increase the pass rate and improve the quality of the exam.