Temporary pay victory for coastguards

COASTGUARD rescue officers (CROs) in Stranraer, Kirkcudbright, Isle of Whithorn, Portpatrick, Drummore and Portling will continue to receive payments for training and callouts.

It comes after the Government abandoned plans to strip them from September.

The decision follows a national campaign involving MPs from across the House of Commons.

The Government had backed the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s plans to move officers to an expenses-only volunteer model following a Court of Appeal judgment on their employment status.

However, an announcement by Maritime Minister Keir Mather means those plans will no longer go ahead in September. Instead, the modest payments CROs receive for callouts and training will continue while the Department for Transport considers the future of the service.

In his statement to Parliament, Keir Mather admitted the two surveys used to inform the proposed change “were not sufficiently detailed to properly reflect the impact of these changes”.

The move has been welcomed by Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper, who had backed the Save Our Service campaign and repeatedly challenged the Government over the potential impact on local Coastguard teams.

He said: “With a huge coastline that is busy with professional sailors on commercial activities such as ferrying and fishing, and packed with leisure craft ranging from paddleboards to large yachts, Dumfries and Galloway is very much a maritime area.

“The issue has particular significance here, where Coastguard Rescue Officers regularly respond to incidents involving people in danger on the coast, missing persons, flooding, severe weather and other emergencies.”

Mr Cooper has pledged to continue working with CROs and in Parliament as the Government considers the long-term for the service.

He added: “This is a victory for Coastguard Rescue Officers across the country.

“They are highly trained emergency responders who give up their time to keep others safe. They do not do it for the money, but the modest payments they receive help make service possible alongside work, family life and other commitments.

“This reprieve is important, but it is not the end of the matter. The Government must now work properly on a long-term model which respects their service, rewards the hours they give and keeps our coastal communities safe.”