§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many merchant ships were UK owned and registered in each year since 1997. [73386]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe size of the fleet in number of UK owned and UK Registered ships is given in the table:
As at 31 December UK Owned Fleet (All vessels) UK Owned Fleet (*Trading vessels) 1997 1,779 612 1998 1,770 616 1999 1,763 617 2000 1,793 624 2001 1,772 594 2002 (as at 30 June) 1,754 593
As at 31 December UK Registered Fleet (All vessels) UK Registered Fleet (* Trading vessels) 1997 1,498 369 1998 1,498 378 1999 1,456 379 2000 1,518 417 2001 1,527 427 2002 (as at 30 June) 1,562 451 Note:
*"Trading" vessels are those which carry cargo or passengers for commercial purposes. The remainder of the fleet consists of vessels, which are deemed to be "non-trading". Examples of non-trading vessels are dredgers and trawlers, but vessels which were constructed for "trading" purposes can also come into this category, if they have been converted to a non-trading use, e.g. storage or a floating restaurant.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government have taken since 1997 to help increase the amount of UK-flagged tonnage in the merchant shipping industry. [73385]
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§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government have introduced tonnage tax. Together with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's registration reforms, this has resulted in a substantial increase, of around 90 per cent., in the amount of UK-flagged tonnage in the merchant shipping industry.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions have taken place with NUMAST on(a) the health and safety of British seafarers and (b) the state of the UK shipping industry. [73388]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Secretary of State met NUMAST to discuss cover by fire services at sea, social conditions on UK registered ships, and seafarer training.
Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met NUMAST to discuss social conditions on UK registered ships.
The Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has also met NUMAST to discuss issues arising from the Report of the re-opened Formal Investigation into the loss of the MV Derbyshire.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed in the UK shipping industry in each year since 1997. [73387]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe best estimates of total active seafarers since 1997 are those produced by the London Guildhall University's "United Kingdom Seafarers Analysis 2001". These are given in the table:
Year Total Active Seafarers 1997 29,610 1998 29,309 1999 28,085 2000 27,826 2001 25,188 The Government recognise the concern about the lack of a comprehensive, consistent approach to estimating the number of people resident in the UK with maritime skills, based on agreed definitions and assumptions. This includes information on those with maritime skills in posts ashore. My Department is therefore examining, with the industry, means of improving estimates of data.