§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the documents which will incorporate the five year strategy for Her Majesty's Coastguard announced on 17 November 1997,Official Report, columns 9–10; [17548]
(2) if he will list the consultative processes that preceded the five year strategy for Her Majesty's Coastguard; and what consultation he now proposes on the strategy. [17549]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answers 24 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 21 November 1997, Official Report, columns 335–36.
The development of the strategy was an internal matter for the Coastguard Agency. The Chief Coastguard consulted with his Regional Controllers in drawing up the details. The first closures of rescue centres are not scheduled to take place for more than 2 years which allows time to discuss fully the implications and implementation with staff and trade unions. Any personnel disruption will be kept to a minimum and it is intended to reduce staff through natural wastage and voluntary retirement.
§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) whether, and at what cost, design consultants were employed in the preparation of the brochure "HM Coastguard: 5 Year Strategy"; [17603]
(2) on what date the design and detail of the brochure "H. M. Coastguard: 5 Year Strategy" was agreed; [17604]
(3) on what date the brochure "HM Coastguard: 5 Year Strategy" was sent to the printers; and on what date that print order was completed; [17605]
(4) if the two pages headed "Some Questions and Answer" were printed separately from the remainder of the publication, "HM Coastguard: 5 Year Strategy"; on what date the contents of those pages were (a) approved by Ministers and (b) despatched for printing; and on what date those two pages were printed. [17606]
464W
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOn October 20 1997, the Coastguard Agency issued an information pack to provide journalists with background on the work of the Agency. Design consultants employed to advise the Agency on all its publications had some input into the provision of this press information pack, which did not contain any reference to the five year strategy. The cost of consultant advice on the press pack was around £140. The press information pack went to the printers on 7 October and the print order was returned on 15 October.
On 17 November 1997, Official Report, columns 9–10, when I announced the 5 year strategy, the information pack was reissued with the addition of two pages headed "Some Questions and Answers". These were photocopied separately from the rest of the pack on 14 November at the Agency's office and added to the press information pack for issue on the day of the announcement. The contents of the added pages were approved by Ministers when we approved the announcement.