Scotland Office changes tack on coastguard tug support 16/2/13
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart has the Scotland Office for refusing to reinstate the Western Isles coastguard rescue tug.
At present a single emergency vessel is stationed in Orkney to cover maritime incidents across the whole west coast and Northern Isles.
Mr Stewart said MP David Mundell was quoted saying: “It’s clear that there is a need for this service. There is no other viable alternative to provide the service and therefore the government will have to look again at what basis it can ensure that such a service is provided.”
Now Mr Mundell has taken a different tack and refuses to back the return of the tug.
Mr Stewart was “astounded” to be told by Mr Mundell, who is the second senior Westminster politician in Scotland: “It is simply not practical or affordable to station Government funded vessels throughout Scotland or indeed the rest of the UK to cater for the possibility of a shipping incident.”
David Stewart continued: “For a government Minister who previously put his concerns on record to turn round and say it’s not practical for the government to fund emergency cover is appalling.
“Instead they are trying to put the onus on the shipping industry to provide a second tug – this is a government that is putting a price on people’s lives and this should not, and cannot, be allowed to happen.”
The MP added: “Needless to say, I will be making further representation on this.”