Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) in Stranraer, Kirkcudbright, Isle of Whithorn, Portpatrick, Drummore and Portling, near Colvend, will continue to receive payments for training and callouts after the Government abandoned plans to strip them from September.
The decision is a major victory for Coastguard Rescue Officers across the country following a national campaign involving Coastguard Rescue Officers and MPs from across the House of Commons.
The Government had backed the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s plans to move Coastguard Rescue Officers to an expenses-only volunteer model following a Court of Appeal judgment on their employment status.
An announcement by Maritime Minister Keir Mather means those plans will no longer go ahead in September. The modest payments CROs receive for callouts and training will continue while the Department for Transport considers the future of the service.
In his statement to Parliament, Keir Mather admitted that the two surveys used to inform the proposed change “were not sufficiently detailed to properly reflect the impact of these changes”. He said: “I can therefore confirm that plans to move to the expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead, and current arrangements will remain in place.”
John Cooper, MP for Dumfries & Galloway, backed the Save Our Service campaign and repeatedly challenged the Government over the potential impact on local Coastguard teams.
Mr Cooper said:
With a huge coastline that is busy with professional sailors on commercial activities such a ferrying and fishing, and packed with leisure craft ranging from paddleboards to large yachts, Dumfries & Galloway is very much a maritime area.
Coastguards and volunteer lifeboat crews are lifesavers as recent incidents – one off the Mull of Galloway, another off the Auchenlarie Holiday Park east of Gatehouse, and a further one in Loch Ryan, Stranraer – all had good endings thanks to their efforts.
The issue has particular significance here, where Coastguard Rescue Officers regularly respond to incidents involving people in danger on the coast, missing persons, flooding, severe weather and other emergencies.
Joe Robertson MP, who has been leading cross-party efforts in Parliament, said:
It is very welcome news that the Minister has seen sense and blocked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s brutal decision against its own brave frontline workers.
The Government now needs to look at the whole Coastguard Rescue Service model and consult fully and meaningfully with the more than 3,000 Coastguard Rescue Officers.
Whatever decisions are finally taken, the Government must ensure that our hero CROs continue to be remunerated for the hours they put in helping to save lives and keep our coastal communities safe.
John Cooper, Conservative MP, said he will continue working with Coastguard Rescue Officers and colleagues from across Parliament as the Government considers the long-term future of the service.
He added:
This is a victory for Coastguard Rescue Officers across the country.
Coastguard Rescue Officers are highly trained emergency responders who give up their time to keep others safe. They do not do it for the money, but the modest payments they receive help make service possible alongside work, family life and other commitments.
When Coastguard Rescue Officers warned that experienced people could reduce their hours or leave the service, MPs from all parties listened and took those concerns directly to Ministers.
This reprieve is important, but it is not the end of the matter. The Government must now work properly with Coastguard Rescue Officers on a long-term model which respects their service, rewards the hours they give and keeps our coastal communities safe.
