Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, What steps he is taking to increase the number of UK Ratings employed in the cruise industry in (a) deck and (b) engine roles.

The Department has a number of initiatives to promote employment of UK seafarers at all ranks and across all sectors.

For ratings these include: the training link in UK Tonnage Tax and apprenticeships. 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 and which has had a number of maritime partners.

We are keen to see more people at all levels entering the industry and enjoying a career in the maritime area. In our “Maritime 2050” strategy we recognise the importance of our people in the maritime workplace, whether at sea or on land. Consequently people is one of the seven themes in which we set out our long term plans for the UK maritime sector.

The Ratings Taskforce was reconvened to look at promotion of ratings training and employment opportunities. The group comprised representatives from industry and the unions and has now merged with the MNTB Futures Group which will continue this work.

We must ensure that the sector as a whole has the skilled staff it needs to maintain the UK’s position as a leading maritime nation.