Maritime Workers’ Pay Protection

Transport – in the House of Commons at on 22 October 2020.

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Photo of Virginia Crosbie Virginia Crosbie Conservative, Ynys Môn

What steps the Government are taking to ensure that maritime workers receive pay protection equal to other sectors.

Photo of Robert Courts Robert Courts Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We have extended the national minimum wage to cover all seafarers working domestically in UK territorial waters.

Photo of Virginia Crosbie Virginia Crosbie Conservative, Ynys Môn

The maritime industry has submitted a £1 billion bid through the comprehensive spending review to kickstart maritime decarbonisation. That will boost wages and create jobs in coastal communities like Ynys Môn across the UK, and help the UK to lead in green maritime technology. Will the Minister confirm that his Department supports the bid, and that he will commit to meeting me and MPs from coastal communities to discuss this matter in more detail?

Photo of Robert Courts Robert Courts Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I thank my hon. Friend for her passionate advocacy on behalf of the coastal communities of Ynys Môn. I cannot go into the detail of draft proposals, but I can reassure her that across Government the issue of decarbonisation and the need to achieve net zero is central. Decarbonising shipping is essential to achieve the target of net zero emissions across the economy by 2050. I would be delighted to meet her and other parliamentary colleagues to discuss that further.