§ 10 pm
§ Mr. Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I beg leave to present a petition from John D. Buchan, former chairman of the Peterhead harbour board. The petition is signed by 350 fishing skippers from the north of Scotland, and supported by fishing organisations and harbour boards representing over 1,000 boats.
The material allegations in the petition demonstrate the overwhelming opposition of the Scottish fishing fleet to the proposed closure, at the end of this month, of the Moray coastguard sub-centre at Peterhead and express the serious concern of the coastal communities that such a closure would adversely affect marine safety off the north-east coast of Scotland.
The prayer reads:
To the honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The humble petition of fishermen's organisations, harbour authorities and skippers sheweth that Moray coastguard (Peterhead) provides a vital service to mariners, coastal dwellers and holidaymakers alike, and is currently threatened by cutbacks in the resources available to the service.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House ensure that Her Majesty's coastguard receives the resources necessary to the maintenance of a full and thorough rescue service at the port of Peterhead and in the Moray coastguard area.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.