Written question asked by Richard Tice (Reform UK) on Monday, 22 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Ferries

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent French seafarer employment legislation on British seafarers working on cross-Channel ferry services, including on workforce recruitment, retention, morale and work-life balance; and whether her Department has held discussions with the French Government regarding the potential effect of these measures on UK-based maritime workers.

Answer: The Government is committed to strengthening workers’ rights at sea. On 5 June my Department launched a consultation on proposals to use new powers in the Employment Rights Act 2025 to strengthen protections for seafarers on frequent UK-France and UK-Channel Islands routes. The proposals complement the measures enacted by France in 2024. The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-seafarer-protections-on-uk-france-routes/ and closes on 17 July.

My officials have regular engagement with their French counterparts.

Secondary information