Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of surveyor posts in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are unfilled; and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has a complement of 205 posts which either involve the physical activity of surveying, or where the job is graded at the same level as a surveyor. Of these posts, 24% are unfilled, although a high proportion are vacant because the postholder has been seconded or temporarily promoted to other roles which do not entail surveying. In these cases, their marine surveyor skills remain available to the MCA.

The MCA continues to campaign on a national basis to fill vacancies and the last campaign was launched in May 2014. Interviews are planned for week commencing 30 June.

The MCA is trialling Skype interviews to improve the accessibility for candidates working overseas or on vessels.

The MCA has been running a Graduate Scheme for marine surveyors since 2010.