Immigration policy and seafarer jobs

That this House is deeply concerned by the impact of immigration policy on seafarer jobs and training in Net Zero industries; notes that the recent extension of the Offshore Wind Workers Immigration Rules Concession 2017 has cost at least 36 UK seafarers their jobs on vessels constructing EDF’s Neart na Gaoithe wind farm off the coast of Fife; shares the RMT union’s concerns over this case; notes that crewing agent ERSG recruited UK seafarers for 12 months work, only to replace them two weeks later with Filipino crew on lower pay and longer contracts; is alarmed that the Home Office has extended this temporary concession at least seven times but has refused to provide Parliament with information on its operation or labour market impact; notes that over 2,000 offshore wind turbines have been constructed in UK waters since 2017; further notes that the wind industry has not requested and does not support this waiver; and calls on the Government to scrap the 2017 concession and to work with trade unions, employers and the Migration Advisory Committee to secure long-term jobs and apprenticeships for UK seafarers in the offshore wind supply chain.