Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of seafarer (a) ratings and (b) officers to the (i) coastal and (ii) short sea ferry sectors.

Following the recommendations and steer of the Maritime Skills Commission (MSC), the Department for Transport is currently modernising seafarer training with industry stakeholders. The reviews commissioned by the MSC have included a market intelligence report, a cadet training review, and a ratings review. The analysis and recommendations from these reports have been used by the Department to set up various projects to modernise and enhance seafarer training. This includes an industry Working Group, overseen by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), that targets officer training in the coastal area. Following the recent Ratings Review, the MCA will now be working with industry to promote and enhance training for ratings.