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Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment Richard Lochhead has today spoken out against the lapse in resuming emergency towing vessels on Scotland’s coastline.
The removal of the tugs is the first in a long-line of proposed cuts by Westminster under the guise of modernisation, which if taken forward will leave gaps in service provision. The tugs' situation is in addition to proposed closures of both Clyde and Forth Coastguard stations and the downgrading of Aberdeen coastguard.
On Friday there were reports that the UK Government had agreed to a three-month extension to the contract.
Mr Lochhead said: “Our latest information indicates that the tugs are not yet back on duty - leaving Scotland's coastline at risk.
"I am glad that a three-month reprieve is to be forthcoming but as these are emergency response tugs we need the UK Government to progress this as soon as possible and get our vital tugs back in place protecting both our mariners and the environment.
"We also need a long term solution in place. It is just not good enough to cut an important service with no replacement. Decisions which may harm our coastline should not be made for cost cutting reasons.
“I will continue to press the UK Government to live up to its responsibilities, otherwise the three month contract will come to an end right in the middle of winter which would be very dangerous. We can't wait until it is too late."
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