Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with P&O Ferries regarding the wages currently paid to its staff, following reports that those are below the National Minimum Wage; why the provisions of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 have not yet been implemented; and when they expect that to happen.

We welcome P&O Ferries’ recent commitment to working towards the requirements of the Seafarers’ Charter, joining Britanny Ferries, Condor, DFDS and Stena Line in doing so. Officials have begun technical discussions with the company about compliance with the Charter, which requires paying seafarers an equivalent to the UK National Minimum Wage throughout their engagement.