HC Deb 14 April 2003 vol 403 c586W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the budget of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on their role. [109135]

Mr. Jamieson

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) role is to provide a 24-hour maritime search and rescue function, to survey and inspect ships, and to protect the marine environment.

The budgets of the MCA since 1997 are set out in the table:

£000
Budget
1997–98 1
1998–99 86,491
1999–2000 92,672
2000–01 99,816
2001–02 108,641
2002–03 111,662

1Not applicable. The MCA came into being on 1 April 1998.