Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what oversight his department carries out of crewing agencies supplying merchant seafarers to deliver MoD contracts.

Where civilian mariners are employed by contractors to deliver Ministry of Defence (MOD) maritime outputs, the Department ensures appropriate oversight through the contractual framework. Contractors are required to comply with UK maritime law, the Maritime Labour Convention, and all relevant safety, welfare and certification standards.

Prime contractors hold responsibility for selecting and managing any crewing agencies they use. The MOD monitors compliance through routine contract management, including assurance activity, audits, and safety reporting requirements. These oversight mechanisms ensure that contractors maintain suitably qualified and experienced personnel to deliver MOD tasks.