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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential impact of the proposals in the Seafarers Wages Bill on the enforcement of the national minimum wage law by HMRC in the maritime sector.

Officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Low Pay Commission (LPC) speak to a wide range of stakeholders in relation to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and its enforcement.

Almost all workers in the UK are entitled to be paid at least the NMW. This includes seafarers who ordinarily work within the UK and its territorial waters. HMRC takes a risk-based approach to enforcement, which means they can flex their resources to tackle an emerging threat or issue, including for seafarers working in the shipping industry.

HMRC will continue to enforce the NMW with this approach.