§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report of the study into the requirement for United Kingdom maritime skills. [38856]
§ Mr. NorrisThe report, "A Study of the UK Economy's Requirements for People with Experience of Working at Sea" commissioned jointly by the Department of Transport, the Chamber of Shipping and the Marine Society has been published today. I have placed copies of the report in the Library.
The Government have long recognised the importance of trained seafarers for defence and economic reasons and provides targeted support for Merchant Navy training, principally through the Government assistance for training and the development of certificated seafarers schemes.
The Government will consider the report's findings very carefully. The shipping and related shore-based industries will also want to consider how best to meet the potential problems highlighted in the report.