Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2022 to Question 95942 on Wind Power: Migrant Workers, if he will take steps to consult maritime trade unions on the potential impact of the extension of the concession on UK seafarer employment in the offshore wind supply chain.

The Government regularly reviews all concessions to the Immigration Rules against the general principles of the immigration system to check whether they are necessary and regularly undertakes engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. This will continue to be the case in future.

We are clear that all employers should first seek to recruit from the resident labour market rather than using immigration to provide a work force.

The concession will expire on 30 April 2023 at which point we expect that the work will be undertaken by UK workers or those with the appropriate permission to do so.