Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote employment of UK seafarers in the domestic maritime cargo sector.

The Department has a number of initiatives to promote employment of UK seafarers. Two leading schemes include: the training commitment link in UK Tonnage Tax and SMarT/SMarT Plus maritime training funding. Both of these have helped bolster the number of UK seafarers and will continue to ensure through put of skilled seafarers needed for the sectors future economic success and growth.

In our “Maritime 2050: Call for Evidence” we recognised the importance of our people in the maritime workplace, whether at sea or on land. Consequently people is one of the six themes where we have asked respondents to concentrate their views as any long term plans for the UK maritime sector must ensure it has the skilled staff it needs to maintain the UK’s position as a leading maritime nation. We are keen to see more people at all levels entering the industry and enjoying a career in the maritime area.

The Government values apprenticeships as a route to obtaining the skills needed for the future workforce. The Department is also leading the Government’s Year of Engineering campaign, which is committed to boosting engineering skills across the UK.