Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence was used to support the revised model for the Coastguard Rescue Service.

A range of factors were considered to reach a professional judgement which at the time was considered the most appropriate option to preserve operational effectiveness.

Since then, my department has undertaken further work to scrutinise the information that was provided. Having done so, I confirmed on 16 July that plans to move to an expenses-only volunteer model in September would no longer go ahead, pausing implementation to consider the right arrangements for Coastguard Rescue Officers.

Our priority is to ensure the service remains safe, effective and sustainable in the long term. Coastguard Rescue Officers make an extraordinary contribution across the United Kingdom, and this Government is incredibly grateful to them for their invaluable public service.