Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there has been any change to the inclusion of the Merchant Navy Meritorious Service medal with the ambulance service, fire service and police meritorious service medals in order of wear; if so, why this change was made; and whether the Princess Royal was informed of this change.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Government has not made any changes to the status of the Order of Wear since it was instituted as a State Award in 2015. Any changes to the Order of Wear, which is set in the Royal Warrant, would have to be agreed and implemented by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any contingency plans to divert shipping to alternative ports should major ports in Europe be made unusable for whatever reason.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The ports and shipping sector is a flexible, dynamic and commercial sector that will take operational decisions on diversion and re-routeing of vessels in the event of disruption. Such decisions will be made with regard to the capability and capacity of vessels and of alternative ports, and to other factors such as delay, cost or convenience for the users of their services. This flexibility has been demonstrated repeatedly over the last few years throughout the pandemic and other occurrences, for example regular diversion of vessels, or changed service plans, to avoid container freight congestion at European ports, delays from industrial action, or weather conditions.
Some shipping routes, potentially with bespoke infrastructure and vessels, are less flexible in nature, but the competitive UK ports and shipping sector offers a varied choice of routes for freight and passengers. On this basis, the Government does not ordinarily plan to intervene in the operational and commercial decision-making of shippers, port, or ship-operators.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many merchant ships over 3000 tons by category are UK registered; how many merchant ships over 3000 tons by category are owned by UK companies but not UK flagged; and whether an up-to-date list is maintained by the Ministry of Defence or another Government department.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Currently, there are 249 UK Flagged vessels over 3000 Gross Tons (GT).
There are currently 660 Internationally trading UK owned vessels over 3000 GT operating under a different flag to the UK.
A list does not exist outside of the Maritime Coastguard Agency in any other Government Department in relation to these figures.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Government department maintains an up-to-date list of all UK merchant seafarers, officers and ratings.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency holds data on the number of Officers and Ratings who hold UK seafarers’ certificates and recognised qualifications.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the M20 three lane carriageway speed limit will be raised from 50 miles per hour given the suspension of Operation Brock and the removal of motorway barriers; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The moveable barrier remains in place on the London-bound carriageway to allow contractors to resume improvement works that were in place prior to Operation Brock being needed. Both the London-bound and coast-bound carriageways of the M20 continue to operate with two lanes at a 50mph speed limit. Lane three of the coast-bound carriageway is closed until November 2022 to protect the workforce carrying out the works in the central reservation.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to prevent the Harbour Revision Order being used by AB Ports and DP World to fast track planning and control of the Southampton port area without formal consultation.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Harbour Revision Orders (HROS) are devolved to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which handles all aspects of the process, except for their final laying in Parliament. All HROS must include a formal consultation process which is overseen by the MMO, and the department is a statutory consultee on all HROS, along with other relevant bodies. These procedures for handling HROs, alongside legal checks and normal policy checks prevent HROS being used a fast-track process, as it is noted by the MMO that HROS commonly take at least a year to process.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the lifeboat accident on the research ship Sir David Attenborough, whether they plan to review legislation relating to (1) hook release problems, and (2) wire and brake failures, leading to difficulties of recovering free-fall life boats once they have been launched onto the water.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is currently investigating this incident. Their world-class inspectors will uncover its causes and make recommendations to prevent reoccurrence. The Government will consider its response once the investigation is complete.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 31 January (HL5653), whether there is no comparability between the Jubilee Medal and the Merchant Navy Medal for meritorious service.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Platinum Jubilee Medal is a one-off commemorative medal awarded to all eligible public servants who are serving front-line members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and the Armed Forces. The Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service is a state award for those who have served in the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets of the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the British overseas territories. It is awarded to those who have shown devotion to duty and exemplary service which has been of particular value and an outstanding example to others. It is awarded annually and limited to a maximum of twenty medals per year.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the Merchant Navy other than those in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service will be eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces with five years’ service. Those in the Merchant Navy, apart from eligible members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are not eligible. The Merchant Navy and fishing fleets will of course continue to be recognised through the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service state award.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the extent to which the UK's maritime legislation relies on other countries implementing international convention on marine safety, and (2) whether a failure to transpose international convention requirements into domestic law has inhibited the enforcement of marine safety in UK waters.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK does not rely on enforcement of maritime legislation by other countries. In a case of non-compliance with an international convention requirement that has not yet been implemented into domestic law, the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 provides other means of enforcement if the breach of the convention requirement comprises a safety risk.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) may detain a ship, under section 95 of the above Act, if it is considered to be dangerously unsafe, or it is undermanned, under section 49. Non-compliance with a detention notice is an offence under section 284.
Where an owner of a ship fails to take all reasonable steps to operate the ship in a safe manner, a prosecution may be brought under section 100; where the owner and master operate a dangerously unsafe ship, under section 98; and for undermanning, under section 49. In addition, anyone going to sea as a qualified officer or seaman where they are not so qualified, is also guilty of an offence, under section 52. These provisions are regularly relied on by the MCA.