HC Deb 13 July 1998 vol 316 cc17-8W
Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those measures undertaken by his Department to support British shipping since 1 May 1997. [50434]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Deputy Prime Minister established a Shipping Working Group late last year to look at ways to reverse the decline in the UK merchant fleet and to increase employment and training opportunities for UK seafarers. A shipping policy paper, based on the work of the Shipping Working Group, will follow publication of the White Paper on Integrated Transport.

My Department launched the new Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme on 1 April 1998. We have already allocated 30 per cent. more to the SMarT budget than the total grant payments under the previous training schemes in 1997–98 and, whilst 465 new cadets were recruited last year, we have agreed funding for 643 new cadets this year on the basis of industry bids.