[Stronsaylimpet] Future of the coastguard helicopter service

[Limpet editor]

/An extract from Alistair Carmichael's "week in Parliament":/

*Progress on the future of the coastguard helicopter service*

A far more successful and productive event on Wednesday was of course 
the debate we secured 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/73922162/440063076/1138745?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjdkNGZiODdiLWZmOGEtZWUxMS04OTI1LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=r-pZRhwpEY76l8KFhYRICb29GQK4aJv12rcMKQ8_c3s=&emci=104633fa-fe8a-ee11-8925-00224832e811&emdi=7d4fb87b-ff8a-ee11-8925-00224832e811&ceid=397233> 
on the future of coastguard helicopter services, following revelations 
about the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s plans to quadruple the 
emergency response time for the base at Sumburgh.

I am glad to say that the government made significant concessions in the 
debate, agreeing to a review of the MCA’s plans. Clearly the data that 
has been used to start this process has not been adequate and it is good 
that the minister seemed to accept this.

What is needed now is a reset in the future planning for the helicopter 
service. That has to include proper engagement with the local 
communities affected – fishermen, the oil and gas industry, ferry 
providers, shipping and others. Trust has been seriously affected by 
this saga and so the MCA will have to step up its game.

There has got to be a recognition that this is not a simple question of 
how many callouts there are per year, but the nature of those callouts, 
the weather and sea conditions and the distances and scope of area 
involved. This week alone the north boat was cancelled for two days due 
to the severity of the weather. That alone ought to be a reminder of the 
nature of this service – we cut it at our peril.
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