Tuesday 22 February 2011

Scottish Secretary Drops By,,,

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team has been fairly quiet as winters go. The hills have certainly been busy so perhaps everyone has been taking note at Clachaig's Winter Mountain Safety Lectures (- the next one is this evening, and FREE!)

 Trucks, cars, quad bikes, boats, mobile loud hailers and off roaders...

However, there's still plenty to keep mountain rescue in the news these days. Recently came the news that Mountain Rescue Teams will be able to reclaim VAT on equipment purchases, meaning that the donations that the teams survive on will be able to go much further than before. 


And then there's the recent uncertainty over the future of the Search and Rescue Helicopters, and how the service will continue now that the Sea Kings operated by the Navy and the RAF are coming to the end of their useful lives.


Or perhaps the concerns over the impact on Mountain Rescue if plans to merge Scotland's Police Forces to single force are followed through.


So, with various issues constantly bubbling away, it's nice to know that people are listening to those in the know. And nice to be able to play host to Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, who came along to the rescue centre yesterday, to speak to the Glencoe Team, and learn more about how the team functions.


You can read Michael Moore's press statement following his visit here.

Does what it says on the tin!

1 comment:

Teàrlach said...

I have had dealings with Michael Moore and I think he is one of the good guys so his interest is really welcome. His release is a bit odd though. The Government funding for Scottish teams comes from Scottish Government not UK Government so why does his press release major on the Westminster funding which only applies to teams in England?