Context
Concerns have been raised by fishermen about the requirement for a medical fitness certificate, which is seen as expensive and onerous. This affects fishing vessels of all sizes.
Question
Whether he plans to exempt fishermen on vessels below 10 metres from medical certificate requirements. There is real anxiety up and down the country among fishermen as a result of the Government's policy, which is seen to be expensive and onerous. My constituent Bob has worked on fishing vessels his whole life and faces this requirement.
Answer from Mark Harper
The requirement for people working at sea to have a medical fitness certificate applies to vessels of every size, in every other commercial sector. However, Ministers are listening carefully to the views of colleagues across the House on the best way to progress this issue and I look forward to the hon. Lady's follow-up question. Either I or the maritime Minister will be pleased to meet fishing representatives to hear their concerns. Of the 99 cases that have been through the MCA's medical assessors, no fisherman has been failed, except one who did not provide the evidence required. There are grandfather provisions for those fishermen already in the industry if they obtain their medical certificate before 30 November.
Not addressed: Specific exemption for vessels below 10 metres
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