Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the effect on the Government's industrial strategy for the offshore wind industry of the employment of non-EEA crew on offshore wind construction and maintenance vessels in UK territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has been working closely with the Home Office to develop a time-limited concession, outside of the Immigration Rules, requiring offshore wind construction and maintenance vessels in UK territorial waters to bring themselves into compliance with the rules on the employment of non-EEA crew on offshore wind construction and maintenance vessels in UK territorial waters.