Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic development achievable by investing in maritime decarbonisation in the UK’s coastal communities; and what steps the Government will take to ensure that development is achieved equitably between all nations of the UK.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Department has made no assessment of the level of economic development achievable by investing in maritime decarbonisation in the UK’s coastal communities. However, in 2019, alongside the Clean Maritime Plan, the Department published an assessment which identified that low and zero emissions shipping could result in potential economic benefits to the UK of around £360-£510 million per year by the middle of the century.
Maritime UK has published its views that investment in maritime decarbonisation could in future create jobs in all four nations of the United Kingdom, particularly in coastal communities with a tradition of maritime economic activity, including shipbuilding.
Industry research estimates that in 2017 the UK maritime sector as a whole directly supported more than 220,000 jobs for UK employees.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the DVLA plans to substantively respond to the ongoing case of the constituent of the hon. Member for Angus, reference DD4418.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
A reply to the correspondence referred to was sent by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on 21 October. The reply included an apology for the delay in responding.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what functions national maritime operations centres perform; what resources and equipment are located at those centres; and how many staff are stationed at each of those centres.
Answered by Robert Courts
Her Majesty’s Coastguard has one National Maritime Operation Centre (NMOC) which is based in Fareham in Hampshire. In addition to the National Maritime Operations Centre there are ten Coastguard Operations Centres (CGOCs) which are located at: Aberdeen; Belfast; Dover; Falmouth; Holyhead; Humber; Milford Haven; Shetland; Stornoway; and London.
The NMOC and the CGOCs form a fully integrated and flexible national network which allows Her Majesty’s Coastguard to fulfil its national and international functions, which includes the initiation and coordination of civil maritime and aeronautical search and rescue.
As defined by international convention the six key functions of the integrated national network are; search and rescue; pollution and response; vessel traffic management; maritime safety; maritime security and emergency; and disaster management. All centres are equipped to respond to such incidents 24/7/365.
In addition, the NMOC also incorporates the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre and the Mission Control Centre, which are responsible for tasking of all Her Majesty’s Coastguard search and rescue aviation assets and the receipt and response to distress beacons respectively.
All Her Majesty’s Coastguard centres are equipped to receive, respond and coordinate all distress, urgency and alert situations within the UK Search and Rescue Region. This includes an integrated command and control system, search planning, integrated mapping and communications systems, including satellite-based services.
The below table demonstrates how many full-time equivalent operational staff, by job role, are expected to be at each location.
| Maritime Operations Controllers | Team Leaders | Senior Maritime Operations Officers | Maritime Operations Officers |
Aberdeen CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Belfast CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Dover CGOC | 1 | 4 | 21 | 6 |
Falmouth CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Holyhead CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Humber CGOC | 1 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
London | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Milford Haven CGOC | 1 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
NMOC | 8 | 8 | 51 | 16 |
Shetland CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Stornoway CGOC | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
Two Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Managers also work at the National Maritime Operation Centre. A further two full time equivalent staff work at the Mission Control Centre and thirty-two staff work at the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are employed by (a) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (b) HM Coastguard in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Wales.
Answered by Robert Courts
As of 31 March 2021, the employees of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are broken down as follows, this includes permanent and fixed term employees:
England - 926
Scotland -161
Northern Ireland - 41
Wales – 108
Her Majesty’s Coastguard is a Directorate within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and therefore is included in the figures above. Disaggregating Her Majesty’s Coastguard figures from above, permanent and fixed term employees within Her Majesty’s Coastguard Directorate as of 31 March 2021 are:
England - 334
Scotland -114
Northern Ireland - 28
Wales – 57
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what types of (a) helicopter and (b) ships HM Coastguard has access to; and where those vehicles are stationed.
Answered by Robert Courts
Her Majesty’s Coastguard has on contract two types of search and rescue helicopter. These are the Sikorsky S 92 and the AgustaWestland (Leonardo) AW189.
The dedicated search and rescue helicopters operate from the following locations:
Sikorsky S92 AgustaWestland 189
Sumburgh Inverness
Stornoway Prestwick
Humberside St Athan
Caernarfon Lydd
Newquay Lee on the Solent
Her Majesty’s Coastguard has on contract one Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) – which is an Anchor Handling Tug. The ETV is permanently stationed off the northern coasts of Scotland.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the Maritime and Coastguard Agency performs apart from coastguard.
Answered by Robert Courts
In summary, as well as the services of Her Majesty's Coastguard, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency manages the UK Ship Register and carries out its ship survey and inspection roles as both as a Flag and a Port State. Through its survey and inspection regime, it enforces standards for ship safety, security, pollution prevention and seafarer health and safety.
It also provides seafarer examinations and certification services and provides regulatory and policy advice on matters including fishing vessel safety, civil hydrography, navigation safety and future technologies. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency promotes maritime standards and encourages economic growth.
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the budget for HM Coastguard was in each of the last five years.
Answered by Robert Courts
The budget for Her Majesty’s Coastguard for each of the last five years is as follows:
Financial Year Budget (£)
2016-17 242,355,780
2017-18 260,745,074
2018-19 248,005,106
2019-20 259,397,741
2020-21 271,058,746
Asked by: Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party - Angus and Perthshire Glens)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has made of the potential merits of prioritising people who require a specific type of driving licence for employment for bookings for practical driving tests when they resume as covid-19 restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is now planning to resume driver training and testing in line with the Prime Minister’s road map announcement. In England, this will be no earlier than 12 April 2021, providing the data shows it is safe to move on to this next step.
Dates for Scotland and Wales remain subject to agreement with the devolved administrations.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not hold data on a candidate’s occupation, or reason for taking a test, when they apply for a routine theory or practical test. The DVSA will be making tests available in all licence categories when it is safe to do so.