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Written Question
Clothing: Cultural Heritage
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to support traditional English sartorial culture and the related industry.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the government announced £2 million funding to support five London Fashion Weeks over the next two years. This will go specifically towards supporting emerging designer talent and increasing access to the sector, delivered through the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme.

DCMS also supports the UK Research and Investment (UKRI) £15 million Circular Fashion programme, launched in 2022 to bring the sector, academia and government together to understand and drive the fashion and textiles industry towards sustainable and responsible practices. This programme will be critical in developing this area of research and meeting the goal of transforming the fashion and textiles sector to adopt economically viable and scalable circular models by 2032.

The textiles, fashion and craft industries play an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and are a major driver of economic growth. The UK is famous for its unrivalled creativity and innovation and it has a track record for producing some of the world’s most influential designers. Recognising this contribution, we are committed to supporting future growth in the sector. DCMS continues to engage with the British Fashion Council, the Crafts Council and the wider industries to understand the challenges the sectors are facing and how the government can best provide support.


Written Question
P&O Ferries: Inspections
Tuesday 19th March 2024

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates the Maritime and Coastguard Agency carried out port state control inspections of the (a) P&O Pioneer and (b) P&O Liberte ferries in Dover under the Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The P&O PIONEER was last inspected under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” by the French on 17 November 2023 in the port of Calais. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carried out general inspections on board on 2 and 9 June 2023 in the ports of Dunkerque and Dover respectively.

The P&O LIBERTE was last inspected under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” by the French on 11 March 2024 in the port of Calais. The MCA carried out a port state control inspection on board on 7 March 2024 in the port of Dover.

The Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023 do not apply to these vessels as they operate to an EU member state. As set out in Regulation 2(a), a regular service is defined as a service between a port in the United Kingdom and a port of a country other than an EU member state. The Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023 apply to all ro-ro passenger ferries or high-speed passenger craft, which operate a regular service to or from a port in the United Kingdom either on an international voyage to a non-EU port or to another UK port in sea areas designated Class A in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000. Inspections of foreign flagged ro-ro passenger ferries or high-speed passenger craft on a regular service between the UK and a port in the European Union will be carried out under the Port State Control regime in accordance with Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011.


Written Question
P&O Ferries: Conditions of Employment
Tuesday 19th March 2024

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that crew employment conditions on the (a) P&O Pioneer and (b) P&O Liberte ferries are compliant with the (i) ILO Maritime Labour Convention and (ii) Seafarers’ Charter.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTE operate between the ports of Dover and Calais. These ships are subject to inspections both under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” and the Paris MoU port state control regime by the French and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

They are subject to two inspections under the EU directive and one port state control inspection every year. All of these inspections include verification of compliance with elements of the Maritime Labour Convention, for example: seafarer employment agreements; wages; accommodation; food and catering; leave; medical care; welfare; and health protection. Whenever surveyors from the MCA are on board these vessels, these items form part of their inspections.


Written Question
UK Border Force: Patrol Craft
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Border Force vehicles have been used to patrol the English Channel in each year since 2015.

Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)

Border Force Maritime Command secure the UK maritime border with a fleet of vessels including offshore Cutters, inshore Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV), and a range of smaller craft equipped for individual operations.


Written Question
Patrol Craft
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023, HC 1468, for what reason CUTLASS was withdrawn from service early.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

CUTLASS was withdrawn from service and replaced by STARTER in December 2020 in order to both significantly enhance our Military Aid to the Civil Authorities Explosive Ordnance Disposal capability and provide a significant through-life cost saving.


Written Question
Patrol Craft: Finance
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, HC1468, published in July 2023, for what reason there was constructive loss relating to patrol craft.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It should be noted that write off assets are not cash losses and do not represent a cost to the Department.

This constructive loss refers to two second hand patrol craft purchased in financial year 2016-17 for the use of the Gibraltar Defence Police. The craft were procured in consultation with the Police and tested in UK waters but, when they reached Gibraltar, they were found to be too unstable for use in in the Straits of Gibraltar where high sea states are common. After due consideration, two of them were transferred to the Defence Equipment Sales Authority for disposal.


Written Question
Marines: Patrol Craft
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was for upgrading the Royal Marines' offshore raiding craft to commando raiding craft specification in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

A total cost of £11.35 million provides the full capability requirement and extends the through-life management until 2030.


Written Question
Patrol Craft
Tuesday 13th February 2024

Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost for his Department was of was the Batch II River-class offshore patrol vessels.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

In regard of contract values for the Batch 1 and Batch 2 Type 26 Frigates, the Type 31 Frigates, and the Batch II River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 December 2023 to Question 4914 and to the answer I gave on 7 February 2024 to Question 12110 to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Kenny MacAskill).

Other relevant costs include a contract worth some £70 million awarded to Thales for the provision of equipment and technical services for a Type 31 shore-based mission test and integration facility.

I am withholding the wider programme costs including the costs for capability insertion and Government Furnished Equipment for the two Frigate programmes project as its disclosure could be prejudicial to the commercial interests of our industrial partners, BAES Systems and Babcock.


Written Question
Patrol Craft: Costs and Deployment
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where each offshore patrol vessel (a) is deployed and (b) was manufactured; what the purchase cost was of each vessel; and what the annual (i) running and (ii) maintenance costs are of the Overseas Patrol Squadron.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

In answer to the hon. Member's questions I can provide the following information:

a) The offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are currently deployed as follows:

  • HMS Mersey, HMS Severn and HMS Tyne are all in the UK
  • HMS Forth is in the South Atlantic with British Forces South Atlantic Islands
  • HMS Medway is in Gibraltar
  • HMS Trent is in the Caribbean
  • HMS Tamar and HMS Spey are in the Indo-Pacific

b) HMS Mersey, HMS Severn and HMS Tyne are Batch 1 vessels, built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Southampton.

HMS Forth, HMS Medway, HMS Trent, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey are Batch 2 vessels, built at BAE Systems’ shipyards on the Clyde.

c) It is not possible to give a purchase cost for individual vessels, however the Contract value for the two Batches were:

  • The contract for the three Batch 1 vessels had a value of £378 million.
  • The contract for the five Batch 2 vessels had a value of £635 million.

i) The annual running costs for all OPVs for Financial Year (FY) 2022-23 was £54.122 million.

ii) The maintenance costs for all OPVs for FY 2022-23 was £51.250 million.


Written Question
Navy: Patrol Craft
Tuesday 6th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase the capability of offshore patrol vessels operated by the Royal Navy.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) are proven platforms supporting Maritime Security, Marine Enforcement and global Defence Engagement. The three Batch 1 River Class OPVs have been successfully patrolling the UK EEZ and North European waters for over 20 years, whilst the five forward deployed Batch 2 River Class OPVs are patrolling the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

The capabilities of both classes are kept under constant review to ensure the ships can safely deliver their tasking.