Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Independent (affiliation)) on Thursday, 13 January 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 January 2011. It was answered by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 January 2011 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Rescue Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2010, Official Report, columns 133-4WS, on coastguard services (modernisation), what the latest technologies referred to are; and how the proposed new system will operate.

Answer: [holding answer 18 January 2011]: The technologies referred to in the proposals for the modernisation of HM Coastguard are the latest version of existing technology currently installed in the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres. The proposals seek to fully exploit functionality, such as geographic information systems and mapping, that is currently not used by HM Coastguard but is already used elsewhere by other emergency services.This technology covers functions such as incident command and control, information management, search planning, vessel traffic monitoring as well as radio and telephone communications.Chapter 3 of the consultation document 'Protecting our Seas and Shores in the 21 Century', published on 16 December 2010, outlines how the proposed new nationally networked system will operate.Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's website at:"www.mcga.gov.uk"

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 34344; 521 c893W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Coastguard Services (Modernisation)
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects: Rescue services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk