HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 c276W
Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government funding for coastal lifeboats. [127866]

Mr. Jamieson

In the United Kingdom, 296 coastal lifeboats are provided for front line search and rescue purposes by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) which, as a charity, receives no Government funding. In addition, there are 42 independent rescue boats which are made available for search and rescue purposes. These boats are usually part of local charitable organisations or privately funded and again receive no Government funding.