Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding was available to employers from the Support for Maritime Training budget for (a) trainee seafarer ratings, (b) rating to officer conversion and (c) officer cadets in 2016-17.

The Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) budget in 2016-17 was £15 million and was available to employers, as sponsoring companies, for approved training of (a) trainee seafarer ratings, (b) rating to officer conversions and (c) officer cadets.

Although SMarT has a fixed budget, funding continues to be allocated on the basis of demand, all of which was met in full in 2016-17.