§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Coastguard auxiliaries have the authority to call out lifeboat crews without the agreement of Her Majesty's Coastguard regional headquarters; and what are the procedures to be followed when a vessel is seen to be in distress and requiring a lifeboat.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to the reply, 28 March 1984, c. 171]: Should an immediate launch of a lifeboat be necessary to ensure the safety of life, an auxiliary coastguard station is authorised to call out a local lifeboat, keeping the rescue coordination centre informed. A message containing the relevant information and a request for an immediate launch is passed to the RNLI launching authority normally by telephone.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the future of the St. Ives coastguard lookout station.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to the reply, 28 March 1984, c. 171]: It is planned to retain the look-out at the auxiliary coastguard station at St. Ives for the foreseeable future. The extent of visual watch maintained at St. Ives is subject to periodic review.
I am sending a copy of this reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the relationship between Her Majesty's Coastguard and its auxiliaries in the south-west of the United Kingdom; and if the assistance of the police has been required to prevent access of auxiliary personnel to the St. Ives station.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to the reply, 28 March 1984, c. 171]: I am not aware of any difficulties in the relationship between regular and auxiliary coastguards in the south-west. The auxiliary coastguard lookout Section at St. Ives was recently restructured following some local difficulties. But the assistance of the police was neither requested nor required in this matter.
I am sending a copy of this reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Hams).