§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the number of auxiliary coastguards and the availability of equipment including cliff rescue gear and four-wheel drive vehicles at North Berwick.
§ Mr. NorrisUnder proposals arising from the accepted recommendations of the Coastguard sector review, the North Berwick Auxiliary Coastguard Company is to be reduced in numbers from nine to five persons, and the current cliff rescue equipment and four wheel drive vehicle withdrawn on operational grounds.
Over the last three years the majority of incidents have required the attendance of only one or two auxiliaries, and only one cliff incident occurred; even this did not require the use of cliff rescue gear. The four wheel drive vehicle is to be replaced by a smaller van since there will no longer be a requirement to carry cliff rescue equipment.
A cliff rescue facility will continue to be provided by the helicopters from either RAF Leuchars or Boulmer.