§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the level of provision of coastguard services around the coasts.
§ Mr. David MitchellHer Majesty's Coastguard's 10-year modernisation programme will be virtually complete with the opening in December this year of the new maritime rescue subcentre "Solent", at Lee-on-Solent. All 24 centres will then be fitted with the latest technology for the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue in close co-operation with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, aircraft of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and British Telecom's coast radio stations.
This country now possesses the most comprehensive maritime and coastal search and rescue service anywhere 441W outside the United States; and I would like to pay tribute to the skill and dedication of the Coastguard Service, which last year recorded 4,879 incidents, and co-ordinated assistance to 8,516 persons in danger at sea or on the coastline. In spite of their tremendous efforts, 257 lives were still lost.
It remains the responsibility of those on our coastline and in yachts and fishing vessels to exercise due care for their own safety. In particular, all boats should be encouraged to carry marine band VHF radio, which enables mariners to call the Coastguard for assistance, allowing the latter in any part of the United Kingdom to fix swiftly the position of a casualty by radio direction finding.