SEAFARERS' JOBS AND THE TONNAGE TAX

Early day motion 880, tabled 22 March 2004 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 165 members.

That this House is deeply concerned that the total number of UK seafaring ratings has declined from 30,000 ratings in 1980 to less than 10,000 in 2003; regrets that the decline has continued since the introduction of the Government's tonnage tax regime; notes that the proportion of British officers is also declining and has fallen by more than 27 per cent. in the last three years; believes that the decline in UK seafarers cannot be allowed to continue if this country is to retain a core of essential maritime skills; abhors the fact that ship owners who have benefited massively from millions of pounds of public subsidy through the tonnage tax regime have failed to arrest this decline in British jobs; notes that in its current form the tonnage tax has not generated significant training and employment opportunities for UK seafaring ratings and officers; and calls on the Government to use the current Inland Revenue review to introduce a firm link between the concession and the increased employment of UK seafaring ratings and officers on UK registered ships.

Signatures by party: Labour 105, Liberal Democrat 33, Labour/Co-operative 9, Scottish National Party 5, Conservative 4, UUP 4, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.