Call for evidence on modernising the coastguard

The Transport Committee is to conduct an inquiry into the Government’s proposals for modernising the Coastguard. It will also examine the impact of the Government’s decisions not to renew the current contract for emergency towing vessels when it expires in September 2011 and to review arrangements for the Maritime Incident Response Group, which responds to incidents at sea for which fire-fighting, chemical hazard and/or rescue teams may be required.

The inquiry will build on the oral evidence provided to the Committee by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 8 February. The Committee expects to hear further oral evidence from a range of interested parties, beginning after Easter.

Written evidence would be welcome on these issues from any individual or organisation affected by, or with a view on, the Government’s proposals. This could take the form of a paper or letter written specifically for the Committee or we would be grateful to be copied into responses to the Government’s consultation exercise on the future of the Coastguard service. We would be grateful to receive written submissions by Tuesday 26 April.

Notes on the submission of written evidence
 
It assists the Committee if those submitting written evidence adhere to the following guidelines:

• Written submissions should be as short as is consistent with conveying the relevant information. As a rough guide, it is helpful if they can be confined to six pages or less. Paragraphs should be numbered for ease of reference. A single-page summary of the main points is also helpful. The submission should be in a form suitable for monochrome photocopying.
• Evidence should be submitted in Word or Rich Text format, by e-mail to transev@parliament.uk. The body of the e-mail should include a contact name, telephone number and postal address. It should be absolutely clear who the submission is from, particularly whether it is on behalf of an organisation or in the name of an individual.
• Once accepted by the Committee, written evidence becomes the Committee’s property and it may decide to publish it or make other public use of it. If the Committee decides to accept your contribution as evidence we will email you formally accepting it as such. An acknowledgement of formal acceptance will be sent once all formalities have been completed. You may publicise or publish your submission yourself, once you receive the formal acceptance of your evidence to the Committee. When doing so, please indicate that it has been submitted to the Committee.
• Though the Committee is happy to receive copies of published material, formal submissions of evidence should be original work and not published elsewhere.
• Committee staff are happy to give more detailed guidance on giving evidence to a select committee, or further advice on any aspect of the Committee’s work, by phone or e-mail.