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2.43 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Ms Glenda Jackson): I congratulate the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) on securing this opportunity to discuss marine rescue services and the men and women who play a vital role in life-saving around our shores. He referred
to possibly the two most famous search-and-rescue services in this country, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and HM Coastguard, and said that they were separate organisations, but, as I am sure that he is aware, the co-ordination of marine rescue services falls to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, through its national network of 24-hour HM Coastguard rescue co-ordination centres.
The hon. Gentleman referred to the report by the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee. He is right that it would be improper for me to respond to it in this debate, but the Government welcome the Select Committee's report and will give a considered response in due course.
The hon. Gentleman has specific and individual concerns regarding the proposed co-location of Portland and Solent. Co-location will not in any way mean a reduction in manning or a merger of the two divisions as they are at the moment. He mentioned the importance of local knowledge, which is indeed vital, but I am sure that he would agree that the local knowledge needed to ensure the safety of hundreds of miles of our coastline and millions of square miles of the seas around them could not be maintained exclusively in the brains of individuals, and there are many ways to ensure that local knowledge is at the fingertips of the coastguards when they need it in the co-ordinating centres.
The Coastguard, of course, deals with both search-and-rescue incidents and the threat of pollution. The Government will be publishing Lord Donaldson's report on 15 March. The Coastguard has its own extensive marine and coastal rescue organisation, with more than 3,000 auxiliary coastguard volunteers formed into nearly 400 response teams. I believe that through the services of the RNLI and other volunteer rescue organisations--for example, the facilities of the Ministry of Defence and the Coastguard organisation--we have the best search-and-rescue service in the world. That is what the Government are committed to continuing.
Last year the Coastguard co-ordinated 11,747 incidents resulting in 18,965 persons being assisted or rescued. It is also worth noting that 98.7 per cent. of these incidents were brought to a successful conclusion, thanks to our excellent marine rescue service.
The Coastguard and RNLI do not react only to marine casualty situations but have an excellent relationship when working together towards promoting marine safety within the United Kingdom. This is achieved through such groups as the sea safety liaison committee, where the pooled knowledge of the two organisations gained through more than 350 years of experience between them of marine safety is being used to excellent effect.
Initiatives aimed primarily at the sport and recreational user have been successfully introduced, which offer safety advice and education. It is in this way that the awareness of safety issues and accident prevention have been brought to the fore.
I know that the hon. Gentleman takes a keen interest in marine safety matters, especially as the RNLI headquarters are situated in Poole. I should declare a personal interest because my great grandfather and grandfather served on the lifeboat in my home town of Hoylake on the Wirral peninsula. When I had the privilege
of visiting the headquarters at Poole, those present kindly dug into their archives and produced the most wonderful photograph of my grandfather sitting with the crew outside the lifeboat house at Hoylake. The photograph is now hanging on my office wall.
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that all marine rescue services deliver the highest standards of search and rescue, but the timing of the debate is particularly noteworthy as it follows the day on which the RNLI celebrated 175 years of exceptional and gallant service to the maritime community. I am sure that I speak for the entire House in extending my warmest congratulations and the country's gratitude to it for the service it provides and for the courage so often displayed by the crews of its lifeboats. The Government wish to be associated with the sentiments expressed in early-day motion 387.
The RNLI operates a fleet of more than 300 lifeboats from 222 lifeboat stations round our coasts and, as the hon. Gentleman said, those of the Republic of Ireland, as well as a relief fleet of about 130 boats. As a registered charity, the organisation relies entirely upon voluntary contributions and volunteer crews.
Calls on the service have nearly doubled over the past 10 years, with on average 19 calls for assistance each and every day. More than 60 per cent. of all marine incidents round our shores involve the services of the RNLI. This amounts to more than 7,000 incidents a year.
It is also important to recognise that the United Kingdom is served by other voluntary marine organisations. I am sure that the House would wish me to acknowledge too their significant contribution to the saving of life at sea and on our shores.
No debate about marine rescue services would be complete without including the contribution made by the Ministry of Defence through its network of search-and-rescue and other helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. These together with helicopters contracted to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency provide unique air rescue coverage of the United Kingdom.
The provision of such a service can sometimes come with a very high personal price. The House will recall the tragic death of Coastguard helicopter winchman William Deacon in November 1997 during his heroic rescue of 10 crew members from the Green Lily off the Shetland islands. I pay tribute also to the RNLI for its part in that rescue. But for the tremendous efforts and skill of the coxswain and crew of the Lerwick lifeboat, five crew members would undoubtedly have lost their lives.
The Lerwick lifeboat was launched and the Coastguard helicopter scrambled to stand by the vessel Green Lily, which had been drifting, disabled, towards Bressay, Shetland, for most of the day while tugs tried to reach her and connect a tow. Coxswain Hewin Clark took the Lerwick lifeboat alongside and held her there, despite being slammed against the hull or having to manoeuvre clear of the ship, until five of the crew were saved and the ship was a mere 200 m from the shore. The Coastguard helicopter then saved the other 10 men. It was during this phase of the rescue that winchman William Deacon was tragically washed overboard and drowned.
Coxswain Clark was awarded the RNLI's gold medal--the lifeboat crews' Victoria Cross--for the rescue. That was the first gold medal to be awarded for 16 years. His crew were all awarded RNLI bronze medals.
The rescue of all the crew of the Green Lily typifies the extent to which all the rescue services work together, often in extraordinary conditions, to the common end of saving life. All sea and coastal users owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the members of the marine rescue services who daily put their lives at risk to save others.
In closing, I should like to assure the hon. Gentleman, the House and the country that the Government are fully committed to ensuring that marine safety services in the United Kingdom remain among the best in the world. We will also continue to work tirelessly not only to maintain, but to improve the service provided to sea and coastal users.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at nine minutes to Three o'clock.
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