Call for parliamentary debate on rescue tug

Another great defence scoop for the Daily Record today which reveals that the HMS Astute, the nuclear sub that went aground on the coast of Skye, was damaged when it was towed off the shingle bank by the Coastguard rescue tug, Anglian Prince.

Late to the feast, but welcome nonetheless, is the call from Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil for a parliamentary debate on the threat to cut the four rescue tugs from their stations around the British coast.

MacNeil raised the issue at Business Questions in the House of Commons today.

“There is great concern about what the loss of the Anglian Prince could mean to the Hebrides, and the Coalition Government must explain why they plan to make this irresponsible cut," said MacNeil.

“It is only when a major event happens, such as the grounding of HMS Astute, that the value of the stand-by tug is realised. Huge oil tankers pass east and west of the Hebrides daily, and every few years a nuclear submarine seems to go aground - we can’t afford to lose the tug.”