Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received about the future of the emergency towing vessels in the Northern Isles; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations from those in Scotland with an interest in the future provision of an Emergency Towing Vessel operating from the Northern Isles.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is hosting a meeting in Edinburgh on 10 February to consultwith interested parties on the need and scope of putting alternative towing arrangements in place beyond 31 March 2016.