Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many hours of shift time were staffed below risk-assessed level at (a) Humber, (b) Belfast, (c) Liverpool, (d) Swansea and (e) Dover maritime rescue coordination centres in October 2014.

The number of hours the following Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) were staffed at below risk assessed levels during October 2014 were as follows:

* HM Coastguard undertake 2 shifts per day each last 12 hours.

HM Coastguard closely monitors the staffing levels of all MRCCs. Where it encounters difficulty staffing to risk assessed levels, managers will, when appropriate, use tried and tested mitigation measures to maintain operations. These are:

· the long standing pairing arrangements which enable each MRCC to be connected to at least one other which is available to provide mutual support;

· increased overtime amongst MRCC staff; and if necessary

· using Coastguards on detached duty.