HC Deb 12 February 1992 vol 203 cc509-10W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the number of Merchant Navy officers who have upgraded their qualification under the Government assistance for training scheme for each of the years since it started.

Mr. McLoughlin

The number of Merchant Navy officers who have upgraded their qualification under the GAFT scheme within each financial year since it started are given in the table.

Financial year Merchant Navy Officers
1988–89 385
1989–90 448
1990–91 491
1991–92 1500
1 Estimated

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the numbers of seafarers, recruited under the Government assistance for training scheme, trained on foreign flag vessels, including the flags of the Crown and dependent territories, specifying which flag, for each year since the scheme was started.

Mr. McLoughlin

The number of seafarers recruited under the GAFT scheme within each financial year since it started are given in the table.

Financial year Officer Cadets
1988–89 227
1989–90 413
1990–91 521
1991–92 1500
1 Estimated

Funding is provided to individuals who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and who are eligible on nationality grounds to serve as master or chief engineer on a United Kingdom ship. While the Department assesses each trainees record on approved courses no central register is maintained of the ships on which they are employed.