§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport in how many rescue incidents Her Majesty's Coastguard has been involved in each year since 1970; and what was the total cost each year at current prices and 1982 prices.
§ Mr. RidleyThe numbers of rescue incidents in which Her Majesty's Coastguard have been involved, including those where action was taken on distress reports without positive result, are as follows:
Year Number of incidents 1970 2,919 1971 3,518 1972 4,460 1973 4,811 1974 5,572 1975 4,628 1976 4,361 1977 4,030 1978 3,740 1979 3,724 1980 3,914 1981 3,941 1982 4,187 1983 *4,970 * Provisional The total cost of providing the Coastguard service in 1982–83 was estimated by the 1982 resource control review team to be about £14.5 million, of which £8.5 million represented the cost of co-ordinating search and rescue activities. Figures for the earlier years are not available.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish his decision and consequent changes arising out of the Rayner review of Her Majesty's Coastguard; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyAs I told my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Spicer), on 10 May, at column 432, my decisions on the recommendations in the final report of the 1982 resource control review of Her Majesty's Coastguard are set out in the report and action statement which I have placed in the Library. Many of the decisions have already been implemented, and I would expect most of the remainder to take full effect within the next 12 months.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport in what role auxiliary coastguards are used in Her Majesty's Coastguard search and rescue centres; and whether they carry out the duties of full-time coastguard officers.
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§ Mr. RidleyMembers of the Coastguard Auxiliary Service perform some of the duties of regular Coastguard officers at maritime rescue co-ordination centres and sub-centres, including radio watch-keeping under the supervision of regular staff. A full account of the range of duties that fall to auxiliaries is set out in chapter 5, paragraphs 5.1.4 and 5.2 of the report of the 1982 resource control review: a copy is in the Library.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the established staff levels of the Coastguard Service for each year since 1970; and what level was recommended by the 1980 staff inspection report.
§ Mr. RidleyThe approved establishment of Her Majesty's Coastguard, including non-industrial administrative suport, has been as follows:
Year No. of Staff 1970 518 1971 518 1972 530 1973 555 1974 560 1975 589 1976 619 1977 630 1978 639 1979 610 1980 597 1981 597 1982 597 1983 597 1984 590 There was no staff inspection report in 1980; but that undertaken in 1979 recommended 671 posts, including 30 additional posts required during the phased rundown—now completed — of constantly manned stations. The reduction this year reflects the recent merging of the Tees and Tyne maritime rescue sub-centres.