§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the subsidies and tax incentives offered to the shipping industry to employ domestic crews on ships in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each of the other EU countries. [7627]
§ Mr. Norris(a) We are pursuing a package of positive measures to improve the attractiveness of the Red Ensign and the competitiveness of British shipping. These include:
- Foreign earnings deduction (FED) for seafarers: 100 per cent. allowance on earnings made abroad;
- Crew relief costs scheme: grants to alleviate the cost of flying British crews to and from distant ports;
- Government assistance for training scheme: grants for the training of British officer trainees to first certificate of competency;
- Development of certificated seafarers scheme: grants for British junior officers training for their second certificate of competence.
(b) Most member states have schemes. Measures include grants, subsidies, credit facilities, income tax and social security concessions, and special corporation tax regimes. The economic effects of these measures vary from country to country.