Press release

Alexander announces extra funding for mountain rescue services

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury today set out just over £200,000 additional funding for mountain rescue teams across the UK.

From:
HM Treasury and The Rt Hon Danny Alexander
Published
2 August 2011
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, today set out just over £200,000 additional funding for mountain rescue teams across the UK. This is the first time the UK Government has given direct funding to mountain rescue services and will contribute to the cost of procuring mountain rescue equipment this year.

This is the first of four years of funding set aside in the Spending Review, with at least £200,000 available in each year. Funding will be available to 75 teams performing mountain or cave rescue activity across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said:

I am incredibly pleased to announce this additional funding. This recognises the valuable and unique work that volunteer mountain rescue teams do across the UK and will help support the costs of expensive rescue equipment.

The allocations for each area are calculated based on the number of teams affiliated to that body: £128,000 will be available for England and Wales; £68,000 for Scotland; and £8,000 for Northern Ireland.

Notes for Editors

  1. The grant will cover the whole of the UK and will be distributed between the three mountain rescue associations (Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Mountain Rescue Council of Scotland and Northern Ireland Mountain, Cave and Cliff Rescue Coordinating Committee).

  2. Teams affiliated with the above committees, who perform mountain or cave rescue activity, including single role cave rescue teams, will be eligible for funding. Of the 75 teams across the UK which are eligible: 48 are in England and Wales; 24 in Scotland; and 3 in Northern Ireland.

Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558 or by e-mail to public.enquiries@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk

Media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Press Office on 020 7270 5238.

Published 2 August 2011