Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the national minimum wage provisions are applied in the case of the crews of ferries operating on routes into and out of the United Kingdom.

The Government is currently reviewing the application of the legislation to seafarers. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), where responsibility for the NMW legislation lies, are leading this review. It will primarily consider those seafarers working on ferry services. It is considering the Irish Sea routes as the maritime unions have raised concerns in regard to services on those routes. Other routes where potential avoidance or lack of awareness of the legislation is evident will be considered in due course.

Government, industry stakeholders and unions are working on this review.