HC Deb 04 March 1998 vol 307 cc643-5W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action he has taken following the failure of the database computer at Liverpool Coastguard Station on 31 January 1998; and what action he intends to take to ensure that a full maintenance programme is in place; [31948]

(2) if he will list by coastguard station the dates on which the station has been staffed below the recommended watch level since 1 January; [31950]

(3) if he will list the number of occasions telephone communications between the coastguard station on the Shetland Islands and the Scottish mainland have failed during the last 12 months. [31949]

Number of hours when watch levels fell below assessed level
MRSC
1998 Shetland Pentland Forth Tyne-Tees Humber Thames Solent Portland Brixham Milford Haven Holyhead Liverpool Oban Stornoway Belfast
1 Jan 12
2 Jan
3 Jan
4 Jan
5 Jan 12 12
6 Jan 12
7 Jan
8 Jan 12 12
9 Jan 12
10 Jan
11 Jan
12 Jan 12
13 Jan
14 Jan
15 Jan 12
16 Jan
17 Jan
18 Jan
19 Jan 12
20 Jan
21 Jan
22 Jan 12 12
23 Jan
24 Jan
25 Jan
26 Jan 12
27 Jan
28 Jan
29 Jan 12
30 Jan 12
31 Jan 12
1 Feb
2 Feb
3 Feb
4 Feb
5 Feb 5
6 Feb 12 12
7 Feb 7
8 Feb 10
9 Feb 12
10 Feb
11 Feb 6
12 Feb
13 Feb 12
14 Feb
15 Feb
16 Feb 2
17 Feb 2
18 Feb
19 Feb 5
20 Feb 7
21 Feb
22 Feb
23 Feb 2
24 Feb 12 12
25 Feb 12
26 Feb 5
27 Feb 7
28 Feb

Ms Glenda Jackson

The failure of the Action Data System at Liverpool on 31 January was dealt with under the current 24 hour maintenance contract within the required response time. There are no plans to change this contract.

In the last twelve months there have been no known occasions when the telephone communications between Shetland Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre and the Scottish Mainland have failed.

There are no recommended watch levels for Her Majesty's Coastguard co-ordination centres. Suggested watch levels were set out in the "Focus for Change" review and can be varied locally following an assessment of perceived and actual operational demand and risk. The attached matrix shows, by station and date, the number of hours when watch levels were below suggested levels.

Number of hours when watch levels fell below assessed level
1998 Aberdeen Yarmouth Dover Falmouth Swansea MRCC Clyde
1 Jan
2 Jan
3 Jan 12
4 Jan
5 Jan
6 Jan 17
7 Jan 19
8 Jan 5
9 Jan 7
10 Jan
11 Jan
12 Jan
13 Jan 12
14 Jan 12
15 Jan
16 Jan
17 Jan 12
18 Jan 12
19 Jan 12
20 Jan
21 Jan 5
22 Jan
23 Jan 5
24 Jan 7
25 Jan
26 Jan 12
27 Jan 4
28 Jan 4
29 Jan
30 Jan
31 Jan 17
1 Feb 5
2 Feb 12
3 Feb 12
4 Feb 12
5 Feb 12 12
6 Feb 17
7 Feb 12
8 Feb 13
9 Feb 12
10 Feb
11 Feb
12 Feb
13 Feb
14 Feb 12
15 Feb
16 Feb 7
17 Feb
18 Feb 12 5
19 Feb 12 12
20 Feb 17 7
21 Feb 24
22 Feb 7
23 Feb
24 Feb
25 Feb
26 Feb 12 12
27 Feb 12
28 Feb 5

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