MPs call for coastguard plan to be shelved
Louise Ellman, the Committee chairman, described the Government’s plans as “seriously flawed”.
She added: “We found little support for the current proposals and we have no confidence that, under these proposals, the Coastguard will in future be able to respond to emergencies at sea as well as they do now, let alone in a more effective way.”
Pretty unequivocal stuff.The MPs also condemned the Agency's plans to stop providing emergency towing vessels, a decision, the MPs said, which had been made without consultation and against the findings of an independent risk assessment.
"It is, quite literally, inviting disaster", the report noted.
"Emergency towing vessels represent a prudent and seemingly cost-effective, insurance policy for the British taxpayer.
"It would take just one major accident and any savings that would have been made by the decision to cease the contract would be wiped out in a stroke."
