Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact on Coastguard Rescue Officers who lose income from their primary employment when responding to emergency callouts; and whether she plans to introduce measures to ensure such volunteers are not financially disadvantaged.

The revised operating model for the Coastguard Rescue Service (CRS) has been agreed following a Court of Appeal ruling, which meant that the current remuneration model could not legally continue.

We deeply value and recognise the significant service Coastguard Rescue Officers provide along our coastline and thank them for their service. The revised model protects choice, flexibility and the ability for people to serve alongside their primary employment. Protecting volunteering preserves and strengthens communities, builds transferable skills, and underpins emergency response; volunteering has been at the heart of search and rescue for generations.

HMCG has 3000 volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers, all with unique personal circumstances and we recognise that any change will affect individuals differently. Under the revised CRS model Coastguard Rescue Officers will continue to be able to claim expenses. The new Expenses Policy enables volunteers to claim non-taxable reimbursement for reasonable costs including travel, meals, equipment, accommodation, and other authorised expenses incurred in connection with their duties.