To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals for a European Union coastguard service; whether such proposals would involve a transfer of competence to the European Union; what would be the effect on the United Kingdom coastguard service of such proposals; and whether agreement to such proposals would be made by qualified majority voting or unanimity.

A European Coastguard Service is not a concept that the UK would support. Her Majesty's Coastguard has a long and proud history and has a worldwide reputation for excellence.

As part of the proposed revisions to the European Maritime Safety Agency's (EMSA) founding regulations, the European Commission has proposed doing a feasibility study into a European Coastguard system. The proposed regulation has not yet been agreed and is currently being considered.