Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department’s annual seafarer statistics include forecasts of future numbers of UK seafarers.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The invitation to tender for the Seafarer Projections Review was sent out by the Crown Commercial Service on Tuesday 19 January 2016 and the closing date for bids is Tuesday 1 March 2016. Part of the ITT specified that the research should include a model and projections for seafarers over the next decade. We will draw upon this research when developing our own projections. Subject to the tender process, it is our intention to publish this work when it is complete.

In Seafarer Statistics 2015, published on 27 January 2016, it was mentioned that in 2016, the department will be undertaking a user engagement exercise to find out more about how the Seafarer Statistics are used and to collate views on the methodology. The aim of this will be to identify any opportunity for methodological improvements and ensure that the statistics continue to be fit for purpose. The inclusion of projections within this annual publication will be considered as part of this review.

I refer the honourable Member to my response to the Hon Member for Easington (Graeme Morris) on 27 January 2016 http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=23191; and to my answers to the Hon Member 24914 https://wqa.parliament.uk/Questions/Details/31981 and 24917 https://wqa.parliament.uk/Questions/Details/31978.

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