§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision HM Coastguard makes for the control of the operations room by experienced staff during meal breaks. [85839]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonHM Coastguard Operational Instructions are clear that during a temporary absence of a watch manager, such as meal breaks, the watch manager is to ensure that a suitable officer is nominated and has assumed full responsibility for the Watch, and that an entry to this effect is made in the Operations Room Log.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each occasion in the last 12 months on which untrained staff were substituted for trained Coastguard personnel. [85842]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOn no occasions were untrained staff substituted for trained Coastguard personnel over the last 12 months.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultation has taken place with the Coastguard at Dover Maritime Rescue Control Centre about the implementation of the mandatory reporting regime. [85881]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMandatory reporting has been discussed at each 3 monthly meeting of the Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS) Technical Working Group since September 1997. Coastguard Operations Room Staff representatives are present at all these meetings. In October 1997, a special meeting took place involving Regional, District, Operations Room and the, then Coastguard Agency (TCA) Technical Staff to discuss the implications and any necessary changes to current procedures. The last two Dover District Management Board Meetings have included mandatory reporting as the main agenda item. Two circulars on the subject have been issued to all staff who also have access to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) source documentation.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions in the last six months the broadcast service for mariners in the Swansea area has been reduced. [85880]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere have been no occasions in the last six months when the broadcast service to mariners in the Swansea area has been reduced.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra staff will be required by HM Coastguard to fulfil their additional duties to deal with weather forecasts and meteorological reports; and what talks have taken place on this subject with staff representatives. [85840]
224W
Route Approximate scheduled journey time in 1999 (minutes) Change over last 10 years Heathrow-Glasgow 75 Increase of approximately 2 minutes in 1999 Gatwick-Glasgow 85 Increase of approximately 2 minutes in 1998 Stansted-Glasgow 80 No change Heathrow-Manchester 55 Increase of approximately 5 minutes in 1999 Gatwick-Manchester 65 Increase of approximately 5 minutes in 1999
§ Ms Glenda JacksonHM Coastguard has recruited 40 additional Coastguard Watch Assistants (Operations) nationwide to supplement existing Co-ordination Centre watchkeeping complements to assist in the broadcast of Maritime Safety Information (MSI).
The Coastguard Trade Unions were notified of HM Coastguard's future responsibilities for MSI in October 1998, and this was followed by a first meeting in November 1998. Consultation took place in February 1999 with Operations Room staff and District Management teams regarding the operational procedures, radio coverage, frequencies and scheduling required for the broadcast of Maritime Safety Information by HM Coastguard. As part of this process, the Coastguard Trade Unions were also invited to comment. The Maritime Safety Information radio broadcast instructions provided to HM Coastguard Co-ordination Centres are a direct result of this consultation.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the recommended staffing levels for the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre Co-ordinating stations at (i) Oban, (ii) Liverpool, (iii) Belfast and (iv) Stornoway for the period January to April 1999. [85843]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe recommended staffing levels at Oban, Liverpool, Belfast and Stornoway for the period January to April 1999 are as follows.
Oban—1 District Controller (DC), 1 Deputy District Controller (DDC), 4 Watch Managers (WMs), 5 Watch Officers (WOs), 7 Coastguard Watch Assistants (Operations) (CWA (0)), 1 Coastguard Watch Assistant (Admin) (CWA(A))Liverpool—1 DC, 1 DDC, 4 WMs, 8 WOs, 8 CWA (O)s, 1CWA(A)Belfast—1 DC, 1 DDC, 4 WMs, 9 WOs, 6 CWA (O)s, 1CWA(A)Stornoway—1 DC, 1 DDC, 4 WMs, 5 WOs, 7 CWA(O)s, 1 CWA(A).A full-time CWA post may be split between 2 part-time staff.