Coastguard cuts debated

MSPs are to hold a debate on the government's controversial plan to cut the number of Coastguard stations in Scotland.

The proposal would mean reducing the control centres in the UK from 18 to eight.

The regional centre serving the Firth of Forth and a Coastguard station at Granton would disappear.

Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has secured a debate at Holyrood next Thursday calling for the plans to be abandoned.