Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to abandon plans to cut the number of Coastguard Stations in Scotland.
Dr Allan’s Member’s Debate entitled Coastguard Centre Cuts has already gained support from Lib-dem and Green MSPs, allowing it to be debated in parliament on Thursday 27th January 2011.
Dr Allan commented:
“This debate will, I hope, provide an opportunity for MSPs of all parties to make clear their opposition to the drastic cuts being proposed by the UK Government to Coastguard Centres around Scotland.
“These cuts, which would see the work of five stations effectively centralised in one full-time station and one station operating in daylight hours only, have raised serious concerns about safety.
“Above all these proposals would deny the Coastguard the benefit of essential local knowledge around Scotland’s coastline. I know that colleagues representing other areas affected, particularly Shetland, have indicated their keenness to take part in this debate, which calls on the Scottish Government to continue to oppose these UK proposals in the strongest possible terms.”
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