Swansea Coastguard (Hansard, 16 November 1989)

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 31 October,Official Report, column 135, if he will indicate for each of the five personnel on duty at the Swansea coastguard station (a) the number of hours worked in total that day and (b) the start and end times of shifts.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
The three regular coastguard officers each worked 12 hours from 0800 to 2000 and each had a meal break of 1½ hours in this period. In addition, auxiliary coastguard staff worked the following hours: two auxiliaries 0700 to 1300, one auxiliary 1200 to 1800 covering meal breaks and two auxiliaries 1300 to 1900. At no time were there fewer than four staff on watch.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the normal watch strength at the Swansea coastguard station; what representations were made earlier this year to the district management about the watch strength; and what action was taken, or is planned, as a result of these representations.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
The minimum watch level is three regular coastguard officers. However, the normal target is four regular officers on watch.
Staff representations regarding manning have been considered at district, regional and headquarters level. The present complement is considered adequate for the task.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any regular difficulties were experienced in maintaining the watch strength earlier this year at the Swansea coastguard station as a result of leave entitlement, training absences, sick leave, prior engagements, or the secondment of staff to other duties; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
Some difficulty was experienced during July 1989 in maintaining the watch strength due to 397W a spate of short-term sickness which coincided with previously arranged staff leave and training absences. On no occasion, however, did the watch strength fall below the minimum requirement of three regular officers on watch. On the few occasions when there was only the minimum regular watch strength, the fourth person on watch was provided by use of an auxiliary coastguard.