HC Deb 27 January 1995 vol 253 cc385-6W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the hourly rate of pay for auxiliary coastguards in each financial year since 1984–85;

(2) how many (a) full-time coastguards and (b) auxiliary coastguards, excluding rescue centre staff, were in post on 1 April 1984 and each year since;

(3) what was the total payment made to auxiliary coastguards for (a) all training, (b) training excluding rescue centres and (c) patrols in 1984–85 and each year since;

(4) what were the total budgets excluding rescue centres, for (a) each region, (b) each district and (c) each sector for (i) full-time coastguards and (ii) auxiliary coastguards in 1984–85 and each year since;

(5) what was the total number of paid hours for (i) patrol work and (ii) training, excluding rescue centres, in (a) each region, (b) each district and (c) each sector by auxiliary coastguards in 1984–85 and each financial year since then;

(6) how many (a) full-time coastguards and (b) auxiliary coastguards were in post in 1 April 1984 and each year since;

(7) what was the total number of unpaid hours worked by auxiliary coastguards for (a) training on coast rescues, (b) training in rescue centres and (c) patrols in each region, each district and each sector in 1984–85 and each year since;

(8) what was the total coastguard budget in each year from 1984–85 to date at November 1994 prices; and what is the planned budget for 1995–96.

(9) how many sectors in each coastguard district have exhausted their planned budget for the year for (a) auxiliary coastguard training for rescue centres, (b) auxiliary coastguard training on coast rescue and (c) patrols.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 26 January 1995]: These are operational matters for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Hourly rate of allowance for Auxiliary Coastguards Hourly rate of allowance for Auxiliary in Charge
0600–2000 2000–0600 0600–2000 2000–0600
1 April 1984-1 April 1985 1.86 2.10 2.32 2.62
1 April 1985-1 April 1986 1.94 2.19 2.42 2.74
1 April 1986-1 April 1987 2.05 2.32 2.57 2.90
1 April 1987-1 April 1989 2.17 2.45 2.71 3.06
1 April 1989-1 December 1991 2.26 2.55 2.83 3.20
1 December 1991-now 2.60 2.93 3.25 3.68

The information requested in PQs 603/94/95, 605/94/95, 612/94/95 and 613/94/95 is not available in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 27 January 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive. PQ 609/94/95. No sectors have exhausted their planned budgets for (a) auxiliary coastguard training for rescue centres and (b) auxiliary coastguard training on coast rescue. Among the 91 sectors four sectors have exhausted their planned budgets for (c) patrols. The information requested in PQ 611/94/95 is only available from 1990 and is detailed in the following table:

Number of full-time Coastguards in post Number of auxiliary Coastguards
1 April 1990 484 1
1 April 1991 480 4,353
1 April 1992 474 4,061
1 April 1993 477 3,823
1 April 1994 473 3,454
1 Figures not available.

The information requested in PQ 604/94/95 is only available from 1993:

Number of full-time Coastguards in post (excluding rescue centre staff) Number of auxiliary Coastguards (excluding rescue centre staff)
1 April 1993 130 3,426
1 April 1994 125 3,077

The information requested in PQ 610/94/95 is only readily available from 1990–91:

Year Total HM Coastguard budget (at November 1994 prices) £
1990–91 18,376,804
1991–92 19,562,144
1992–93 19,415,817
1993–94 20,449,937
1994–95 119,144,129
1995–96 2
1 HMCG portion of The Coastguard Agency's budget of £24,882 million.
2 Not yet decided by The Coastguard Agency Management Board but estimate provision of £25,596 million is being sought for the Agency as a whole.

The information requested in PQ 608/94/95 is detailed in the following table: