I wrote to the International Maritime Organization on 23 March setting out the UK position in regard seafarer welfare and to reassure the IMO that the UK continues to recognise our international obligations in regard the transit and transfer of seafarers.

The UK is currently considering IMO protocols to facilitate crew changes to ascertain what other measures the UK could implement. We also continue to work with and share best practice with other administrations.

I have regular dialogue with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding a range of topics. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been supporting Departmental officials who have been working with other government agencies to support industry in the global repatriation of UK and non-UK national seafarers

The UK has not placed restrictions on the transit and transfer of seafarers and continues to meet its international obligations related to the transit and transfer of seafarers.

The Government has ensured quarantine requirements for those travelling into UK, announced on 22 May, do not apply to seamen, masters or marine pilots travelling in the operation of their duties.

These matters are flag blind, I wrote to the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization on 23^rd March stating that as a port state the UK will continue to recognise its international obligations and allow seafarers to transit and transfer in the UK and to access shore leave.

I have spoken with Lord Ahmad (Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) regarding specific issues with the repatriation of seafarers.

As the flag state authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has made specific measures in regard certification and employment to aid shipowners and seafarers with crewing arrangements.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has been very clear that the pandemic does not remove the duty of care that ship operators have to their seafarers.

I wrote to the UN agencies on 23^rd March setting out the UK will continue to permit seafarers to transit and transfer in the UK and access to shore leave. This letter was shared with all state parties to the agencies. The ILO and the International Maritime Organization have also issued guidance to all state parties to recognise seafarers as key workers and to remind states of their obligations under international maritime law to facilitate the movement of seafarers and to allow seafarers to be repatriated.

I have spoken with Lord Ahmad (Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) regarding specific issues with the repatriation of seafarers.

The Department does not assess the Merchant Navy Training Board’s progress in promoting ratings and cadet training.

Officials from the Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency sit on the Merchant Navy Training Board with observer status. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are there primarily as a regulator of standards against the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978.

Approval of recruitment & placement agencies is the responsibility of the State in whose territory the agency is located. Wallem Ship Management is not located in the UK; hence they are not approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Workers who ordinarily work in the UK are entitled to minimum wage for all of their work, including, for example, for work on ships located outside the UK servicing offshore installations. Furthermore, workers on UK registered ships are entitled to minimum wage for all their work on the ship wherever it is located, unless they work entirely outside the UK or are not ordinarily resident in the UK.

This Government takes minimum wage enforcement seriously and is committed to ensuring all employers pay their workers correctly. We continue to invest heavily in minimum wage enforcement, increasing the budget to over £25 million for 2018/19, up from £13 million in 2015/16. In addition to following up on every worker complaint received, HMRC undertake proactive investigations and conduct awareness raising activities amongst both employers and workers.

Last year, HMRC identified record arrears of £15.6 million, for over 200,000 workers.