Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Joint Maritime Security Centre is taking steps to ensure that the (a) beneficial ownership of Russian vessels is tracked when ships are transferred to open or international registries and (b) ban on Russian ships accessing UK ports is maintained if the beneficial owners commercially operate from Russia; and how many vessels with Russian beneficial owners, but who's flag has changed, have been identified as attempting to (i) circumvent the port ban and (ii) evade sanctions.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Joint Maritime Security Centre provides Department for Transport officials with regular vessel tracking reports for Russian-linked commercial ships thought to be heading towards the UK Marine Area, including where Russia is identified as the country of beneficial ownership. This monitoring is not limited to Russian-flagged vessels, but all registries, where a Russian link is identified.
Department for Transport officials maintain close contact with the maritime industry to assist the port sector in undertaking their own due diligence. Government support has included the publication of six versions of industry guidance and regular intelligence reports containing Ships of Potential Interest, which are those identified as having a potential Russian connection. The legal duty under the Russia (Sanctions)(EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as amended (the Regulations) remains with UK ports to reach an assessment as to whether they know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a ship falls within scope of the port ban.
The prohibition on UK port entry in the Regulations applies to certain ships including “a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by persons connected with Russia”. The definition of a person “connected with Russia” includes but is not limited to individuals who are “ordinarily resident in Russia” or “located in Russia”, or companies that are “incorporated or constituted under the law of Russia” or “domiciled in Russia”.
At the start of the conflict, at least twenty-eight ships were knowingly frustrated by the UK sanctions, having been refused entry by ports; diverted by their owner or operator; or having changed their ownership or operational structures to ensure compliance. We have now seen a wholesale change in Russian shipping activity which has seen an extensive reduction in the number of Russian-linked ships transiting UK waters and no recent attempts by such ships to enter UK ports.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on the potential merits of supporting maritime projects through the Levelling-Up and Shared Prosperity Funds.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The maritime sector is a crucial part of our heritage and modern economy. Officials from my department have consistently engaged with local authorities on the design and scope of both the Levelling Up Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
While it is up to local authorities what they wish to support with their UKSPF allocation, both UKSPF and the Levelling Up Fund are able to support and benefit maritime organisations and projects across the UK.
My department is also forging ahead with delivering new Freeports across the UK - these are special areas centred on ports of all modes that will enjoy access to a generous suite of tax incentives, customs facilitations, public funding, and government support, helping them harness the power of private investment to spread jobs and prosperity.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the dismissal of workers by P&O on 17 March 2022, whether he has taken steps to strengthen the employment rights of UK seafarers.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The government continues to promote and deliver its seafarer protections nine-point plan, and the wider objectives of Maritime 2050.
On 6 July, the government introduced the Seafarers’ Wages Bill to the House of Lords and published the Government’s Response to the Consultation on Seafarers’ Remuneration. The Bill seeks to ensure that seafarers working on vessels that regularly use UK ports are paid at least an equivalent rate to the UK National Minimum Wage, irrespective of flag or nationality.
This is in addition to other commitments in the nine-point plan, including BEIS’ forthcoming consultation on a “fire and rehire” statutory code, reform to longer-term working conditions for seafarers, and working with international partners to collaborate on seafarer protections and welfare.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help strengthen seafarers’ employment rights following the actions of P&O Ferries on 17 March 2022.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The government continues to promote and deliver its seafarer protections nine-point plan, and the wider objectives of Maritime 2050.
On 6 July, the government introduced the Seafarers’ Wages Bill to the House of Lords and published the Government’s Response to the Consultation on Seafarers’ Remuneration. The Bill seeks to ensure that seafarers working on vessels that regularly use UK ports are paid at least an equivalent rate to the UK National Minimum Wage, irrespective of flag or nationality.
This is in addition to other commitments in the nine-point plan, including BEIS’ forthcoming consultation on a “fire and rehire” statutory code, reform to longer-term working conditions for seafarers, and working with international partners to collaborate on seafarer protections and welfare.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop a strategy for deploying (1) shore power, and (2) electric recharging infrastructure, at UK ports, harbours and marinas.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We made a commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan to consult on the appropriate steps to support and, if needed, mandate the uptake of shore power in the UK. We conducted a call for evidence between 7 February and 25 April. My officials are currently analysing the responses and will publish a summary in due course. We recognise the barriers to the uptake of shore power, and we will be using the evidence provided in the call for evidence responses to inform our policy development. We intend to publish a further consultation on specific proposals of shore power later this year.
We will aim to publish a Government response to the shore power consultation as part of the refresh of the Clean Maritime Plan in 2023.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the global food security crisis of reduced exports of grain, fertiliser and other agricultural products as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The impact of the invasion is being felt around the world but most acutely in countries already facing dangerous levels of food insecurity. The World Food Programme estimates that if the war continues, up to 47 million more people could face acute food insecurity this year, bringing the total as high as 323 million by the end of the year. There is an estimated 25 million ton backlog of grain unable to leave Ukraine due to Putin's reckless blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. The UK is working closely with our international partners to mitigate the impacts of Russia's actions and to tackle global food and nutrition insecurity. We are holding Russia's actions to account, being clear that Western sanctions are not to blame, supporting UN-led negotiations to reopen maritime routes for food exports from Ukraine's sea ports, and supporting efforts to transfer grain to global markets via rail routes.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether key worker status remains available for all foreign crews of ships visiting UK ports; and whether those crews will be allowed to go ashore unless there are known specific health risks.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has ensured the UK has remained open for seafarers of all nationalities throughout and post pandemic – whether that’s to take shore leave, receive vaccines, or be repatriated. The UK is proud that it has treated all seafarers properly in line with established international conventions. The government remains committed to the welfare of seafarers, and work continues to strengthen legislation in this area.
Key workers provide essential services which keep the country functioning. Seafarers are regarded as key workers due to the critical work they carry out to keep our maritime trading routes open. Whilst COVID related restrictions in the UK ended in April 2022, seafarers retain key worker status.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to apply lessons learned from his Department's review of the maritime sector following the actions of P&O Ferries to air transport.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Following P&O Ferries’ disgraceful actions, the Secretary of State announced a nine-point plan to improve seafarers protections. Legislation will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows that intends to ensure that seafarers working on vessels that regularly use UK ports are paid at least an equivalent rate to the UK National Minimum Wage, irrespective of the nationality or the seafarer or flag of the vessel.
On 30 June, the Secretary of State set out the 22 measures the Government is taking to support the aviation industry, including to help recruit and train staff, ensure the delivery of a realistic summer schedule, minimise disruption, and support passengers when delays and cancellations are unavoidable. The Government recognised that while the issues was one for industry to solve, a series of targeted measures could support their efforts.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who the members of the Clean Maritime Council were as at 23 June 2022.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
As at 23 June 2022, the member organisations of the Clean Maritime Council were: British Ports Association; Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Affairs; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department for Transport; ENGIE; Environmental Defence Fund; ING Bank; Innovate UK; Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology; Lloyd’s Register; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Maritime Enterprise Working Group; Maritime London; Maritime UK; Offshore Renewable Catapult; Red Funnel; Smart Green Shipping Alliance; Strathclyde University; UK Chamber of Shipping; UK Major Ports Group, UN Climate Change Champion; University College London; Wightlink and Workboat Association.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the maritime ports his Department classifies as nationally significant.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department for Transport does not designate ports as nationally significant or otherwise, and in general expects them to compete freely with each other irrespective of size. However, 52 ports are designated (based on handling more than 1M tonnes of cargo in a year) as "major ports" for statistical purposes. A list may be found at Annex A to the publication Port Freight Statistics 2020: Notes and Definitions.
Nationally significant port infrastructure projects are defined at s.24 Planning Act 2008.