To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the UK Hydrographic Office on potential for supporting the employment of UK seafarers working on vessels from UK ports through its work.

The employment of UK seafarers working on vessels from UK ports does not fall under the UK Hydrographic Office's (UKHO) remit. The UKHO supports UK Ports through the provision of products, services and expertise to enhance port operations and to ensure safe navigation through fast and efficient updates of official products and services from source data supplied by ports.