Coastguard Volunteers

Earlier this year, a court ruling put at risk the hourly payments that help cover the costs volunteers incur when they drop everything to rescue people in trouble at sea.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency had planned to remove those payments from September. But after intervention by the Coastguard volunteers, who have been brilliant, MPs for coastal areas including myself, the Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, has stepped in and paused the change.

Volunteers will continue to receive these payments beyond September, and the Minister is now working to find a long-term solution.