Written question asked by Gwyn Prosser (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 January 2003. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 January 2003 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many foreign seafarers have been employed on UK-registered merchant ships in each of the past five years. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign seafarers have been employed on UK-registered merchant ships in each of the past five years. [88902] Mr. Jamieson: Employment of seafarers is a matter for shipping companies and the Department does not maintain records of the nationalities of seafarers employed on UK registered ships. In the past five years, 6,097 certificates of equivalent competency have been issued to foreign officers, and a further 10,574 have qualified for UK certificates of competency. These officers are eligible to serve on UK ships, although many serve on foreign registered vessels. (Most officers only apply for a certificate of equivalent competency when there is likelihood of employment on a UK ship). Some limited information is available from returns of companies entered in tonnage tax, but in most cases, this only covers the last two years and does not cover all UK registered ships.

Secondary information