Written questions by Morris.

What her proposed timeline is for the transfer of staff to the Department for Transport Operator Limited from Rail Service, Rail Strategy and Reform and Corporate Delivery.

The proposed transfer of some staff from DfT to the DfT Operator is planned to take place for the beginning of the financial year 2026/27.

Which railway routes are most at risk from (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Further, we recognise that the UK rail network is large and diverse, with different landscapes and communities facing different climate risks. Network Rail has produced a Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA) plan for each of its five regions. This allows Network Rail to better identify, at a regional scale, those routes most at risk from climate change and extreme weather events. In 2026, 14 TOCs will also submit their first WRCCA strategies. As most TOCs operate over confined geographical regions, these will add further detail to our understanding of regional risks.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of climate change adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level.

What representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for additional funding to mitigate the impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

My department takes resilience of the railway very seriously. The recent Climate Change Committee progress report on adapting to climate change rated plans and policies of the rail sector as being 'good' – one of only three parts of the economy. DfT’s upcoming climate change adaptation strategy will address the recommendations from the progress report within our remit and empower the sector to take further action. Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level. For the current Control Period in England and Wales (CP7 - from 2024/25 to 2028/29) Network Rail will invest around £2.4 billion in activities that deliver primary weather resilience benefits. A large proportion of this is used for core maintenance and renewals activity.

What emergency plans (a) her Department and (b) Network Rail has made for future extreme weather events.

The Department requires Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to put in place measures to avoid, where possible, the potential impact of disruption including as a result of weather. Network Rail owns and is responsible for maintaining railway infrastructure to ensure passenger and freight services operate safely. Officials hold regular discussions with Network Rail and industry to ensure severe weather preparedness plans are in place with clear mitigations to reduce the impacts of weather on punctuality and reliability. Network Rail Routes liaise closely with Train Operators to ensure comprehensive checklists are in place and to align customer messaging. Extreme Weather Action Telecons (EWATs) are stood up in anticipation of adverse or extreme weather conditions likely to impact upon rail networks, attended by Network Rail, British Transport Police, the Rail Delivery Group, train operators and the Department. EWATs coordinate the response to severe weather, for example by prepositioning people, equipment, assets to at-risk areas and implementing speed restrictions and emergency timetables where appropriate. Where services need to be cancelled, train operators will seek to provide alternative transport where possible, although there may be instances where this is not viable.

When the framework agreement between her Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was signed; and if she will publish this agreement.

The MCA Framework agreement was published in November 2017.The Department for Transport has recently updated the MCA framework document, which will be published shortly.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the UK Civil Hydrography Programme.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or Cabinet colleagues regarding the UK Civil Hydrography Programme.

With reference to the Report to the Shipbuilding Enterprise for Growth Group by the Centres of Excellence Task & Finish Group, published in September 2024, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on potential domestic maritime employment opportunities in the pipeline of shipbuilding contracts identified in that report.

Shipbuilding skills and employment is led by the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO), which is hosted by the Ministry of Defence. My officials are in regular contact with the NSO to understand where the Department can support their work.

With reference to the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy published on 25 March 2025, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (SHORE) takes account of employment practices at companies which submit bids to SHORE for public funding.

The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy encourages building on the UK’s extensive maritime knowledge, expertise and capacity for innovation. Through the UK Shipping Emissions for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, we have invested £236m across the UK to support research and development into clean maritime technologies.As the primary delivery partner for UK SHORE, Innovate UK manages the competition, assessment process, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring and management of UK SHORE funded projects. Innovate UK undertakes rigorous checks on each organisation receiving funding before grants are awarded. There are clauses within the grant awards that allow funding to be immediately suspended or terminated if we have concerns about an organisation breaking the law, including through their employment practices.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34603 on Rolling Stock: Northern, what information her Department holds on the number of train cars in good working order but not in use by Northern.

Northern currently has 954 carriages that operate according to train service requirements set by the Department. Train operators are responsible for ensuring that they meet the needs of customers by deploying the appropriate number of vehicles into service to deliver train services. The Department does not hold information in respect of the number of vehicles that are available for service but not in traffic, this is a matter for the operator who must make effective use of their fleet by balancing demand against maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul tasks.

How many applications for (a) Navigational Watch Rating certificates, (b) Engine Room Watch Rating certificates, (c) Electro-Technical Watch Ratings Certificates, (d) Able Seafarer Deck Certificates of Proficiency and (e) Yacht Rating Certificates, were received by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since 2014-15; and how many were issued by the MCA in each of those years.

The MCA received the following applications and awarded the following Certificates in the years since 2014/15. Applications Received Annually YearNavigational Watch Rating Certificate (NWRC)Engine Room Watch Rating Certificate (ERWRC)Electro-Technical Rating Certificate (ETRC)Able Seafarer (AB) - DeckYacht Rating Certificate (YRC)Total 14/1524637-109392 15/1620227-126355 16/1719334-157384 17/1819727-133357 18/199622-104222 19/209718-95210 20/2112922-122273 21/2210421-121246 22/2322835-140403 23/2425240-134426 24/2522856-158442 Total1972339 13993710 NBAug 2020 received data for ratings data wiped due to a retention policy on the file Certificates Issued Annually YearNavigational Watch Rating Certificate (NWRC)Engine Room Watch Rating Certificate (ERWRC)Electro-Technical Rating Certificate (ETRC)Able Seafarer (AB) - DeckYacht Rating Certificate (YRC)Total 14/15Non-Digital until April 2016Non-Digital until 06/2016N/A-Non-Digital until April 2016- 15/16Non-Digital until April 2016Non-Digital until 06/2016N/A-Non-Digital until April 2016- 16/17138244-126292 17/18187293-122341 18/19133233-63222 19/20156191-140316 20/21159186-145328 21/22144211-117283 22/23145242-122293 23/24215363-128382 24/252052813-116362 Total148222236 10792819 This data comes with the following commentary:ERWRCs and ETRCs are not historically discriminated between in our records of received applications and are combined in the received application table.Able Seafarer Deck applications are issued and recorded regionally by MCA Marine Offices, and can be obtained using a face to face service. We do not have centralised data on the number of applications they receive annually or the dates of issue in a centralised record. If required we can provided this given time to review and collate this data.Records of NWRC, ERWRC and YRCs issued in 14/15 and 15/16 are recorded in physical locations and not held digitally or are retained within legacy systems. If required we can provided this given time to review and collate this data.

What information her Department holds on the number of train cars that were in use by Northern in January 2025.

On 1 January 2025, Northern had 954 carriages available for use.

If she will have discussions with the Office of Rail and Road on the potential merits of increasing the number of northern services from (a) Seaham and (b) Horden train stations.

Rail North Partnership, on behalf of the Department and Transport for the North is currently examining a business case for the increase in services along the Durham Coast line to these two stations, with effect from the December 2025 timetable. The analysis must balance the economic and social benefits of this enhancement with the performance of existing services and the financial impact on taxpayer subsidy.

How many train cars were in use by Northern in January 2024.

On 1 January 2024, Northern had 904 carriages. The average number of carriage journeys made by Northern Trains in January was 6543 per day across all train configurations.

What steps her Department has taken to consult maritime trade unions ahead of the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 7-11 April.

The Department regularly engages with the maritime trade unions, including through meetings of the UK Tripartite Working Group on the Maritime Labour Convention.

What recent assessment she has made of the contribution of the Maritime Labour Convention to (a) pay, (b) welfare standards and (c) safety within the UK shipping industry in the last ten years.

The UK takes seafarer safety and welfare seriously having implemented the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, in the UK since 2014. The UK takes an active role in the international Committee which keeps the MLC under review. The UK also undertakes and publishes regular post-implementation reviews of its own MLC implementing legislation. The Government is preparing to attend the Special Tripartite Committee at the International Labour Organization in April 2025 to negotiate further amendments to improve safety and welfare for seafarers.The MLC sets standards on the frequency and composition of seafarer wages but not the level of pay. Within the International Labour Organization, the Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission set the international minimum wage for seafarers.A joint Tripartite Working Group allows UK shipowner and seafarer representatives to meet with the Government on a regular basis to report safety or welfare concerns that arise.

What recent discussions she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the level of support provided to (a) Gibraltar and (b) other Red Ensign Group shipping registries for discharging Port State Control responsibilities, in the context of the Maritime Labour Convention.

There has been no discussion between the Secretary of State and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on level of support provided to Gibraltar and other Red Ensign Group ship registers for the discharging of Port State Control responsibilities in the context of the Maritime Labour Convention.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recent report submitted to the International Maritime Organisation by the International Transport Workers Federation on cases of seafarer abandonment in the shipping industry.

The report was submitted for consideration at the 112th Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization. As with all papers submitted to the committee, we are currently reviewing in advance of the Committee in March.

When the Government delegation to the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 7-11 April will be announced.

The UK Government delegation to the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention will be confirmed to the International Labour Organization in the usual way. We expect that the UK delegation will be led by DfT’s Head of Seafarers with additional support and technical expertise provided by officials from DfT and the MCA.

Which ferry operators have access to operate commercial services from UK ports under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

There are ferry operators such as DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Condor Ferries and others operating commercial services from UK port facilities. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code sets minimum standards for port and ship security which must be met by operators but does not itself grant access to operate commercial services. Decisions on commercial services are made by ports themselves.