Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Seafaring Support: Red Sea

Thursday 8 February 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government regularly engages with shipping companies to provide advice and support.
  • Individual seafaring companies and their crews have access to up-to-date advice for informed decision-making.
  • Department works with Cabinet colleagues and international organizations to support seafarers in the Red Sea.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

Seafarers are facing challenges in the Red Sea due to recent attacks, affecting their welfare and supply chain integrity. The government has been engaged with organisations representing seafarers.

Question

I associate myself, and the people of Banff and Buchan, with my right hon. Friend's remarks wishing His Majesty the fullest of recoveries. Could he set out in more detail precisely what engagement the Government have had with British companies across the UK on not just the attacks but the threats of attacks in the Red sea?

Answer from Mark Harper

We have been engaging regularly with shipping companies to ensure that they have as much advice and support as possible, so that they can take informed commercial decisions about vessel movements based on a full consideration of recent events. We provide security advisory notices and convene meetings with the sector at both official and ministerial level. I have met sector leaders to discuss these critical developments.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 David Duguid Con
Context

While steps are being taken to broadly address the issue, there is a need to ensure that individual companies have access to up-to-date advice and protective measures.

Question

I thank the Minister for that positive response. It is clear that the Government are taking the right steps to broadly address the issue, but what is being done to ensure that individual seafaring companies with responsibility for crews have access to up-to-date advice? I would go so far as to suggest protective measures to enable them to keep their routes open—perhaps protective staff on boats, or helicopters or planes overhead.

Answer from Mark Harper

We work very closely with the sector to ensure that it has the best possible information, both at policy level and in the region. We are taking further steps to ensure that the best advice is available on the ground, so that individual captains as well as their companies can make the best decisions commercially and, importantly, for the safety of their crews.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address specific protective measures such as staff or aircraft overhead.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Seafarers are facing challenges in the Red Sea due to recent attacks, affecting their welfare and supply chain integrity. The government has been engaged with organisations representing seafarers.

Question

What steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support seafarers working in the Red sea.

Answer from Mark Harper

We have engaged with organisations that represent seafarers, working closely with the International Maritime Organisation—I have met its new secretary-general twice this year. We will not hesitate to take action to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation. In response to the Red sea crisis, the RAF has engaged in three waves of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets with the United States and other allies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify steps taken directly by his department but instead referenced general actions and support from other entities.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email