§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the proposed changes in coastguard service provision on the ability of auxiliary staff to provide an effective service.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe sector review provided inter alia an in-depth assessment of the ability of the auxiliary coastguard service to provide an effective service. Proposals put forward as a result aim further to improve this ability, including the establishment of 68 additional auxiliary coastguard companies around the coast at locations where there previously were none; by doubling numbers of pagers and portable radios; by improving remuneration, equipment, and training of auxiliaries; and by way of an extensive station building and upgrading programme to provide the coastguard with modern bases from which to operate.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a breakdown by United Kingdom county and region of the finance being allocated for the implementation of the proposed changes in coastguard provision; and how much of this will be offset by planned disposals.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe internal structure of the coastguard service is not organised along United Kingdom county/regional boundaries. The financial allocation for the whole of the United Kingdom for the implementation period of the sector review is in the region of £1,430,000. I would refer the hon. Member to an earlier reply I gave him concerning the disposal of assets, where I stated that no significant income is expected, and that annual running cost savings of over £50,000 will be achieved once the programme of disposals is complete.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from members of the public expressing dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the coastguard service in responding quickly to reported incidents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Secretary of State for Transport has received no representations from members of the public expressing dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the coastguard service in responding quickly to reported incidents in the past year. Her Majesty's coastguard has received expressions of dissatisfaction over the handling of four incidents—out of over 7,200—in the past year.
Her Majesty's coastguard constantly seeks to improve availability, readiness and resources in order to provide the best possible search-and-rescue service in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, columns 216-17, if he will specify the meetings, including dates, he has had with the representatives of coastguard auxiliary staff on the proposed changes to coastguard service provision.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Secretary of State for Transport has not had any meetings with representatives of the auxiliary coastguard concerning proposed changes 369W resulting from the sector review. The coastguard management structure is in place to fulfil the Secretary of State's remit to provide a search-and-rescue organisation within the United Kingdom and auxiliary coastguards have formal access to this management to communicate their views, opinions and concerns.
The hon. Member will be aware that all auxiliary coastguard companies had ample opportunity to communicate their views and opinions on the sector review proposals to district and regional management before final regional implementation plans were submitted to coastguard headquarters.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from chief coastguards on the proposed changes in coastguard service provision; how many expressed(a) approval and (b) disapproval with the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Secretary of State has received no representations from regional controllers on the sector review. Regional controllers have had, apart from frequent written consultations and coastal visits by the chief coastguard, six meetings between January 1989 and May 1991 with the chief coastguard to discuss and formulate recommendations, and to put forward their local implementation plans. All expressed approval of the proposed changes.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he received from representatives of the auxiliary staff of the coastguard service on the review of the service; and how many indicated(a) approval and (b) disapproval.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Secretary of State has received no direct representation from representatives of the auxiliary staff of the coastguard service on the review of the service. Auxiliary coastguards were given ample opportunity to express their views and opinions concerning the sector review through local line management during the consultative period in 1991 before final regional implementation plans were submitted to coastguard headquarters.
The vast majority of auxiliary coastguards and regular officers are in favour of the review and its proposals. There are, exceptionally, a few localised areas where disapproval has been expressed.