§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was(a) the establishment and (b) the actual staffing level of the radioactive materials transport division in each year since its formation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinRadioactive materials transport division, Department of Transport:
Year Complement Actual staffing level 1979 12 12 1980 12 12 1981 14 14 1982 15 15 1983 15 15 1984 16 16 1985 15 15 1986 15 15 1987 16 15 1988 16 16 1989 16 16 1990 17 17 1991 17 17
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport when the cuts proposed in the recently published consultation paper on the review of the coastguard service are due to be finalised; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAn implementation plan for each region was prepared and submitted to coastguard headquarters by the regional controller, which covered a four year period of implementation beginning in the financial year 1991–92, once the recommendations and proposals made in the review had been granted ministerial approval.
The implementation of the review's recommendations will ensure that Her Majesty's Coastguard continues to provide the best possible search and rescue service, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, into the future, in the way outlined in my announcement to the House on 3 December 1991.