§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the total cost of closing four coastguard stations and merging two stations; [22843]
(2) what is the cost of implementation of new digital technology for Her Majesty's Coastguard throughout the United Kingdom stations; and if he will list each station separately and the total costs involved. [22848]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Coastguard Agency, Mr. Chris Harris, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 27 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Coastguard service.The proposed five-year strategy announced by Glenda Jackson on 17 November included a statement proposing the closure of four Coastguard stations, (Oban, Pentland, Tyne Tees and Liverpool) and the co-location of Solent and Portland. The total cost of the proposed closures is estimated to be in the order of £3.5 million subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise and the subsequent Ministerial decisions on the implementation of the strategy. On completion of the strategy in 2002, the year on year running cost savings are likely to be in the region of £2.7million. The total cost of co-locating the 124W Solent and Portland Coastguard stations is difficult to determine at this stage as decisions remain to be taken about the siting of these two centres.The estimated cost of the Integrated Coastguard Communication System (ICCS) is commercially sensitive. We have yet to invite tenders and to disclose the cost at this time would distort the process of competitive tendering.