Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of the Maritime Skills Allowance on Border Force officers; and whether it will review remuneration arrangements.

Border Force and the Border Security Command work tirelessly to keep our borders safe and secure. Our maritime assets and the officers who crew them are a key capability in our mission.

We have been in close dialogue with our maritime officers and their Trade Unions for some time with a view to resolving the ongoing dispute with current terms and conditions.

We are currently holding constructive negotiations with Trade Unions which we believe are moving us closer to a final offer to staff. This offer will include flexibility and attendance- based payments as well as renumeration for professional qualifications through a revised Maritime Skills Allowance package.