§ Mr. Stephen O'Brien:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received on the decision to remove the concession on Class 1 national insurance contributions applicable to mariners working on UK and Isle of Man registered ships where such ships never enter or trade in UK territorial waters (a)before and (b)after the decision was announced; what discussions he has held on the matter; what estimate he has made of the net revenue effect of this change to (i) receipts by Her Majesty's Treasury and (ii) seafarers and mariners registered as UK citizens; and what estimate he has made of the effect of this change on the (A) international competitiveness of the UK/Isle of Man shipping industry and (B) future numbers of UK citizens employed in the industry. [131875]
§ Dawn Primarolo:None. The changes announced were in relation to ships trading in UK waters, not international shipping.