Scottish Conservatives welcome Coastguard announcement

The UK Government has announced that coastguard stations in Shetland and Stornoway will be kept open.

This announcement follows a campaign by all Scottish parties and a meeting in London between Jackson Carlaw MSP, Scottish Conservative Transport Spokesperson, and Mike Penning MP, UK Under Secretary for Transport.

Jackson Carlaw MSP said:

"Scottish Conservatives welcome the revised proposals which will secure the future of the Coastguard Service in Scotland. We shared the concerns of the House of Commons Select Committee as detailed in their recent report and I personally made representations to the Minister in London.

"The House of Commons Select Committee Report accepted the need for modernisation as well as recognising the benefits employing the very latest technology will make to saving lives. Change is necessary but the right change is essential.

"There has been an extensive and genuine consultation. All parties in the Scottish Parliament were united in expressing their concern that reducing stations, particularly in Scotland would be dangerous. All of us will therefore congratulate a UK Government which has listened and responded to those concerns."

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