Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the Ministry of Defence has made in reaching agreements with commercial shipping operators to enable Royal Fleet Auxiliary (a) apprentices, (b) cadets (c) qualified Ratings and (d) qualified Officers to gain the sea time on merchant vessels required to (i) qualify, (ii) progress to higher grades and (iii) obtain higher certificates of competence.

The Ministry of Defence continues to engage with maritime industry partners and the regulator to explore opportunities for Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel at all grades to gain the sea time required for qualification, career progression and certification. This work is being taken forward carefully to balance access to commercial experience with the need to maintain the specialist skills required by the RFA, and to ensure appropriate and effective pathways to qualifying sea time.