Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 34
34
Accepted
Paragraph: 179
The Department for Transport in its own 2015 report advocated for both a cross- Whitehall...
Recommendation
The Department for Transport in its own 2015 report advocated for both a cross- Whitehall team and a Ministerial Working Group for maritime. We agree that these mechanisms would provide a helpful focus for collaboration to support the industry. To improve the interdepartmental understanding of the maritime sector, the Maritime Minister should convene a maritime Ministerial Working Group. The Maritime Minister should also ensure the input of the maritime trade unions.
Government Response Summary
The government will convene the first meeting of the Maritime Council in June 2023 to provide top-level governance across the delivery of Maritime 2050 and will publish a joint Government and industry annual progress report from 2024.
Paragraph Reference:
179
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government notes the recommendation and recognises the importance of collaborative working across Government. The department has worked closely with a range of other departments on matters of maritime security and resilience. For example, in the run up to EU Exit and the end of the Transition Period, the department established the Maritime Security Ministerial Small Group. This group, which brings together the responsible ministers from the Department for Transport, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, acts as the strategic oversight group for maritime security matters across Government, delivered through the National Strategy for Maritime Security. In June 2023 DfT Ministers will convene the first meeting of the Maritime Council which will provide top level governance across the delivery of Maritime 2050. The Council will have responsibility for holding Government and industry accountable for progress in delivering the Maritime 2050 recommendations, with sub-boards and working groups reporting into it. The Council will have a focused membership, representing a wide range of views, experience and perspectives across Government and industry, with Ministers from across Government invited as required by agenda. It will decide, when necessary, the setting up of task-and-finish groups. These groups will convene views and expertise on specific issues, before developments are reported to Ministers at the Council. From 2024, the Council will oversee the publication of a joint Government and industry annual progress report, replacing current, separate products, including the Biennial Report.