HM Coastguard: Conditions of Employment and Pay
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statutory powers or legal obligations underpin the current employment and remuneration model for Coastguard Rescue Officers; and whether any changes to that model have been made following recent court judgments.
Answered by Keir Mather
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and continues to fulfil the responsibilities under the Act.
While the MCA is a Category 1 responder, its response capabilities such as the Coastguard Rescue Service (which is voluntary service) is not a Categorised responder under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). The MCA has contingency plans and measures in place and will continue to draw upon the full UK Search and Rescue system.
Changing the Coastguard Rescue Service operating model was not something which we wanted to do but is a mandated consequence of the Court of Appeal ruling.
Careful consideration was given to the options for a revised operating model. The legal position, the operational implications, the wider organisational impact and the effect on individuals have all been considered, as well as the feedback Coastguard Rescue Officers (CRO) have given us through recent surveys and engagement.
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