HC Deb 01 March 1982 vol 19 cc14-5W
Mr. Rathbone

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report the number of officers, petty officers and ratings serving in the Merchant Navy for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Mr. Sproat

The available information is shown in the following table:

sea but have been excluded retrospectively from the figures. Petty officers cannot readily be distinguished from other ratings.

The "adjustment" adds to national register non-United Kingdom-domiciled seafarers on non-NMB crew agreements and seafarers in the non-federated sector (ie not covered by the GCBS), who are serving on United Kingdom registered vessels; it deducts seafarers on the register who are employed or serving on foreign flag ships registered with the GCBS for manning purposes. These adjustments cannot be analysed by rank.

Employment in the United Kingdom Merchant Navy is the best Department of Trade estimate of seafarers, whether United Kingdom or foreign domiciled, earning their living from serving on United Kingdom registered ships. The number at sea at any time will be much lower.