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<p><i>An extract from Alistair Carmichael's "week in Parliament":</i></p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px">
<strong>Progress on the future of the coastguard helicopter
service</strong></p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px">
A far more successful and productive event on Wednesday was of
course the <a
href="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"
style="text-decoration: underline; color: #2b59c3;">debate we
secured</a> 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.</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px">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.</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px">
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.</p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px"> </p>
<p style="margin:0;mso-line-height-alt:16.8px">
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.</p>
<p></p>
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