PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Ferries (9 July 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vessels with valid licences to operate from the UK in the short sea passenger ferry sector are registered under (a) the UK flag or (b) Red Ensign Group registries; and what proportion of those vessels are qualifying vessels under the Tonnage Tax scheme.

Asked by:
Karl Turner (Labour)

There is no general requirement for ships to be licensed to operate on any routes either within the UK or plying internationally to and from UK ports. There are no requirements for ships which ply solely within UK waters to be registered. Ships that ply internationally need to be registered although choice of register is for the owner's consideration.

The Department does not hold information in relation to the areas of operation of vessels which are entered into the tonnage tax regime. The identity of tonnage tax companies and groups is tax confidential, and so we would not in any case be able to release information which might make it possible to identify individual companies and groups.

Answered by:
Sir Robert Goodwill (Conservative)
16 July 2014