HL Deb 09 May 1983 vol 442 cc329-30

2.41 p.m.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the future of the coastguard rescue service.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the Government have no plans to change the present responsibilities of Her Majesty's Coastguard for the co-ordination of civil maritime search and rescue. The modernisation of the service with improved communications and operational facilities is continuing.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask when we can expect to have the Government's view on the Rayner Report, which includes the need to modernise our coastal radio stations? Will he say what will be the effect—we hope it will be beneficial—on the voluntary lifeboat system if some of its recommendations are accepted?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we shall, of course, be able to consider the Rayner Report, which, as the noble Lord is aware, is under consideration by the Government. We expect to be able to announce a decision on it in due course. Your Lordships will be aware that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a proud and independent service, which we all admire. It is, however, entirely independent of the Government, and independent even of your Lordships' House.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, will the noble Lord not agree that, although it may strictly be independent, the volunteers who give such magnificent service in the life-boat system believe that the nation should at least subscribe to testing and examining boats which are used to rescue other people and which sometimes fail and cost the lives of those volunteers? Will the noble Lord not agree that everything should be done to prevent such disasters as those that occurred in the Mumbles in 1947 and as recently as last year in Devonshire, if this is possible by providing better life-boats?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the noble Lord may be perfectly correct, but I am afraid that all the points that he has raised have nothing to do with the Question on the Order Paper; and nor do they necessarily have anything to do with the coastguard service.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, with great respect, it has always been acknowledged right round the coast that there is an inextricable link between the voluntary lifeboat service, the radio stations and everything else connected with this matter. Therefore, are the Government not prepared to consider that there is a link which they could acknowledge and which they could help wherever possible?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we shall read the noble Lord's comments with the greatest interest, and we are very grateful to him for his continued support for the lifeboat service.