Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department applies the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention to the (a) merchant navy seafarers and (b) vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence applies the Maritime Labour Convention in accordance with its application in UK Legislation. Where a Disapplication, Exemption or Derogation exists in UK legislation, then Secretary of State for Defence’s Policy on Health and Safety places the obligation on the Department to comply with outcomes at least as good as UK legislation.
This is coupled with the Defence Maritime Regulator as an independent Health, Safety and Environmental protection regulator to implement independent assurance of the implementation of legislation such as the Maritime Labour Convention and Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of civilian seafarers in scope of the (a) Defence Maritime Regulator and (b) the Memorandum of Understanding between the MoD and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As of the 6 February 2026, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary had 1,741 employees, who are under the scope of the dual regulatory requirements of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) inspection dates and (b) deficiencies recorded were by officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency following inspection of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in each year since 2014.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Routine surveys and inspections of RFA vessels have been completed in accordance with statutory requirements and timeline. All corrective actions or deficiencies have been pursued by both the RFA and the appropriate regulators and certifying bodies.
Deficiencies raised across all surveys are actioned as a matter of priority and evidenced to the appropriate regulatory body for closure within the agreed time frame.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many inspections of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been carried out by officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency since the updated Memorandum of Understanding was published in November 2024.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) as an organisation have been audited, inspected or surveyed approximately 30 times since the Memorandum of Understanding was updated in November 2024.
This is a combination of RFA ship specific surveys and RFA organisational safety systems audits, capturing the holistic safety management of the RFA in accordance with Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator regulations.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with sports authorities on ensuring that (a) football-related Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is recognised as a public health issue and (b) appropriate education and guidance is made available to players.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.
Mitigating the causes and effects of head injuries in sport is of huge importance to the Government. The Secretary of State for Culture and I have met with affected family members and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with the Football Families for Justice organisation, to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We heard first-hand about players’ experiences and the views of the group on how safety and welfare at all levels of the sport could be improved.
The Government remains committed to working with sports stakeholders to build on the positive work that is already taking place, including the UK Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport, to ensure that everyone can take part in sport as safely as possible.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will work with sports charities to create a national education programme and slogan to raise awareness of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in football.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.
Mitigating the causes and effects of head injuries in sport is of huge importance to the Government. The Secretary of State for Culture and I have met with affected family members and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with the Football Families for Justice organisation, to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We heard first-hand about players’ experiences and the views of the group on how safety and welfare at all levels of the sport could be improved.
The Government remains committed to working with sports stakeholders to build on the positive work that is already taking place, including the UK Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport, to ensure that everyone can take part in sport as safely as possible.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of football related Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy caused by repetitive head impacts from heading a football.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.
Mitigating the causes and effects of head injuries in sport is of huge importance to the Government. The Secretary of State for Culture and I have met with affected family members and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with the Football Families for Justice organisation, to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We heard first-hand about players’ experiences and the views of the group on how safety and welfare at all levels of the sport could be improved.
The Government remains committed to working with sports stakeholders to build on the positive work that is already taking place, including the UK Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport, to ensure that everyone can take part in sport as safely as possible.