Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign Question No. 2

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Transport,

Request for Information

I am making this request for information on behalf of the Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign. The Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign (CLC) was formed on July 4th 2017 in response to the RNLI's decision to strip New Quay of its All-weather Lifeboat in 2020, replacing it with an Atlantic 85 inshore vessel.

The community-driven CLC action group is made up of representatives of local fishermen, boat trip operators, yacht clubs, rowing clubs, long-time fundraisers, and other committed supporters of New Quay Lifeboat Station. There are also crew members in the group, independently supporting the campaign in their own right. We have over 30, 000 petition signatures.

Our MP is building up cross-party political support in Westminster; the Leader of the House of Commons and members of the House of Lords have already backed our campaign with a recent debate held on the 4 February. We have support too from a growing number of Welsh Assembly Members, including the Presiding Officer, and the unanimous backing of Ceredigion County Council. The Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, the Welsh Fisherman's Association, and a wide range of other groups, associations, communities, and influential individuals across the UK have also offered their support.

When the decision was announced, 20 months ago it came as a shock to many as it was unexpected. We have not been able to identify a single organisation or individual that has been consulted specifically about the removal of the all-weather lifeboat. From the outset we have been asking to see what evidence of any consultation that has taken place but the RNLI has refused to provide us with any evidence.

This decision has caused significant concern and leaves many along the coast feeling vulnerable. Nobody understands this decision and the RNLI has refused to provide us with any of the information surrounding how they have arrived at a decision of this magnitude. Not only does it depart from the status quo of over 150 years but also makes the objectives detailed in their 'Plans and Purpose' document unachievable in Cardigan Bay.

Public Interest

As an authority you must consider the relative weight of the arguments for and against disclosure. There can be little prejudice in disclosing the information as the decision has already been arrived at. This decision is fairly recent so all the information should be easily accessible. Crucially, the information we have requested will inform us to what extent the RNLI has consulted with its principal stakeholder and further our understanding of how this decision has been arrived at. This information is not available from any other source and is not in the public domain as the RNLI is refusing to be transparent and accountable.

There is a public interest in transparency and accountability, to promote public understanding and to safeguard democratic processes. There is a public interest in good decision-making by public bodies, in upholding standards of integrity, in ensuring justice and fair treatment for all, in securing the best use of public resources and in ensuring fair commercial competition in a mixed economy.

Further to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we request the following disclosure:

Further to a letter dated 24 October 2017 addressed to the Rt. Hon. Ben Lake MP from the Rt. Hon. John Hayes

a). ‘The United Kingdom's SAR Strategic Committee chaired by a senior official in this Department, reviews the adequacy of SAR resources available across the whole of the country.’

Further to this statement please provide the following information:

(i). Date(s) and minutes of any meeting(s) involving the SAR Strategic Committee and the decision to remove the All-weather lifeboat from New Quay;

(ii). What information was made available by the RNLI for the benefit of the SAR Strategic Committee involving the decision to remove the All-weather lifeboat from New Quay

(iii). Copies of any information supplied by the RNLI or any other agency involving the decision to remove the All-weather lifeboat from New Quay

b). ‘I am assured by the RNLI that they have reviewed this area's activity, as it does when making any change, using its own and open data sources, including information concerning coastal activity and the call on SAR helicopter provision.’

Further to this statement please provide the following information:

(i). Did the Rt. Hon. John Hayes or someone on his behalf verify the assurances given by the RNLI. If yes, please provide copies of any information received to include any minutes of any meetings, telephone recordings or any other written account.

(ii). Did the Rt. Hon. John Hayes or someone on his behalf receive copies of the information referred to above? Namely: RNLI's own and open data sources including information concerning coastal activity and the call on SAR helicopter provision. If yes, please provide copies of any information received by the Rt. Hon. John Hayes or someone on his behalf from the RNLI

Yours faithfully,

Sara Powell
Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign

DirectorateofMaritimeOperations,

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Powell,

            Please find attached, the response letter to your information
request ID3261. I hope this information is suitable for your purposes.

 

Yours,

Mr Andy Cooper.