Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to maintain the international competitiveness of UK seafarer training.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Department for Transport have established a Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) to lead the sector’s work in ensuring the maritime sector has a pipeline of talented people to serve all parts of the sector. The Commissions has recently completed and published a review of seafarer cadet training. Working with stakeholders the MSC and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will look at taking forward these recommendations.
Refreshing the seafarer training system in the UK will allow the well-regarded UK maritime training sector to strengthen its position internationally and meet the future skills needs of the sector.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May to Question 258 on Joint Maritime Security Centre; what the financial contributions are of (a) his Department, (b) the Ministry of Defence and (c) the Home Office; which other Departments contribute financially; what the financial contribution is of those other Departments; and which Department has lead responsibility.
Answered by Robert Courts
In 2020/21, the Joint Maritime Security Centre received £16m funding for its ongoing operations and investment in maritime security capability specific to the end of the Transition Period. This funding was contributed by the Department for Transport, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and their agencies. JMSC is governed by cross-Whitehall structures comprising the funding departments, as well as ongoing Ministerial oversight including via the Maritime Security Ministerial Small Group.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how often the Ministerial Board of the Joint Maritime Security Centre has met since its creation; and which Ministers have attended each of those meetings.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Maritime Security Ministerial Small Group meets regularly and has convened four times since Autumn. Meetings have been attended by Ministers from the Department for Transport, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Maritime security risk assessment, policy development and Ministerial oversight and engagement also continues outside of these meetings.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which Government department holds responsibility for the (a) governance and (b) budget of the Joint Maritime Security Centre.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) is the multi-agency organisation responsible for ensuring the UK maintains its understanding of the UK maritime domain and develops the cross-government coordination frameworks to respond to threats to security, law and order, and the marine environment. The Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence and Home Office are the major financial contributors to JMSC but, mirroring its multi-agency remit, funding is also provided by a range of other Whitehall departments and agencies with maritime security interests. Cross-Whitehall governance structures are in place to oversee the strategic direction and financial management of JMSC at both official and Ministerial level.