To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the criteria were for the relocation of Whitehaven Coastguard headquarters to the inland Sneckyeat Industrial Estate.

The primary criteria considered when relocating the Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team was Her Majesty’s Coastguard’s ability to maintain effective and appropriate responses to incidents.

Response times from this new base to incidents will meet the current service standard and are comparable with responses times from the existing base; for some locations the response times will be improved.

Additionally the new site provides:

· more space for the additional full-time Coastguard Officers that will be supporting the Coastguard Rescue Teams in the local area;

· appropriate working environment for full-time officers; and

· improved facilities for maintaining rescue equipment.