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<p><i>From Alistair Carmichael MP on Facebook:</i></p>
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style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">A frustrating meeting today with the head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency about their changes to remuneration for coastguard volunteers. The changes have provoked serious concern about the future viability of these services - which is why I have secured a debate on the issue next Wednesday afternoon in the House of Commons.</div></div>
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style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">HMRC guidance is at the heart of the MCA\u2019s decision here. It is vital that we get answers on how we reached this point and the evidence and legal justifications on which they are basing this new policy. Whatever the reasons behind it, the outcome for our communities could be catastrophic \u2013 so a change in course must be found.</div></div>
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style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">No one volunteers with the Coastguard for the sake of the remuneration involved but those payments matter, as recognition of the work that they do, and as a way to make such volunteering financially viable. If they are allowed to go through these cuts will undermine morale amongst local crews, harm future recruitment of volunteers, and risk causing active resignations from the service.</div></div>
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style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I look forward to leading the debate next Wednesday \u2013 and I would call on everyone with an interest in this issue to put forward evidence and make their voice heard.</div></div>
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