§ Mr. McNultyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the outcome of consultation on HM Coastguard's five-year strategy; and if he will make a statement in the context of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency merger. [55233]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonFollowing extensive consultation which included staff, trades unions and members of the House, and in the light of the new Maritime and Coastguard Agency created on 1 April, I have decided that the 5-year Coastguard strategy will be taken forward as proposed, though with some changes in timing.
The 5-year strategy involves a major investment o £5 million—£10 million in new digital technology to re-equip and improve the operation of a major rescue service. The new equipment will provide an integrated communications system, replacing outdated equipment which is approaching life-expiry. Associated with the new investment is a programme to close selected Coastguard co-ordination centres which will effectively be replaced by the greater capability of the new equipment. The timing of these closures has also been revised following the consultation process. The centres at Oban and Pentland were proposed for closure by the end of 1999, and this has been revised to Autumn 2000; for Tyne Tees and Liverpool the proposed closure date by the end of 2000 has been revised to Autumn 2001; while the co-location of Portland and Lee on Solent, formerly proposed for the end of 2002, has been revised to Autumn 2003.
The new equipment will provide more effective backup to the frontline Coastguard whose local knowledge will be supported by modern technology. In view of interest in the relationship between the new technology and the station closures, we will keep the reequipment programme under close monitoring to ensure high standards of service are maintained.
I have arranged for copies of the Operational Research Unit's analysis of responses to the consultation document to be placed in the Library of each House.
I have also agreed proposals for management changes within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency which will yield further progress in the closer integration of its two predecessor agencies, to the benefit of all the new Agency's customers.