HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc240-1W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the manpower strength of ships' officers. [35565]

Mr. Jamieson

Exact figures are not available. However, the latest available estimates are that there are about 15,000 active UK seafarer officers employed at sea assuming a retirement age of 65, or about 13,000 assuming a retirement age of 57.