MR. HECTOR HUGHES, M.P. for Aberdeen North, asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what provision is made by his Department for the protection and salvage of shipping- and seamen in danger at sea round the coasts of Scotland; who carries out these duties on shore and at sea; and what are the wages, allowances, pensions and conditions of service of the persons who do this work.

Mr. Harold Watkinson asked permission to circulate the answer in the official report. The answer was as follows: The preservation of shipping and the lives of seamen around the coasts of the United Kingdom is the principal duty of Her Majesty's Coastguard, supported by the voluntary Coast Life- Saving Corps. In this task the Coastguard enjoy the full co-operation of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and of the coast radio stations of the General Post Office. They are also able to count on the voluntary assistance of units of the U.S. Air Force in this country. The Royal National Life-boat Institution provide and man the life-boats as a voluntary service and work in close co-operation with the Coastguard.

In a supplementary question Mr.

Hughes asked whether it was not time that these services vere taken over by his Ministry instead of being left to public charity and flag days and would he take steps to that end.

Mr. Watkinson answered: I should hesitate to interfere with a voluntary service which contains some of the bravest men in the country and which is providing a very adequate service.

These questions were asked on the 20th of March, 1957, and on the 10th of April Mr. Hughes, now referring to Great Britain and not only to Scotland, again asked whether it would not be desirable to combine the Life-boat Service and the Coastguard Service.

Mr. Watkinson replied: " I would certainly agree with the honourable and learned gentleman that the members of the Life-boat Service deserve everything that they can get for being some of the bravest men in this country, but I hope that he is not suggesting that we should do away with this very wonderful voluntary organisation.".