Scots mountain rescue teams given funding boost

SCOTTISH mountain rescue teams are to share in an extra £50,000 of funding across the UK announced today by the Department for Transport.

Mountain rescue teams will share in new funding from the UK Government. Picture: TSPL

The 2015-16 increase will boost the £64,000 a year the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland receives from UK Government, which pays for national training courses.

Nearly one in four of the 1,000 members of Scotland’s 27 volunteer teams took part in such courses in 2013-14.

If Scotland’s increase is in line with its slice of the current total £200,000 funding, it would receive an extra £16,000.

Committee chairman Jonathan Hart said: “The courses contribute to the safety of our voluntary team members who complete about 700 rescues per year.”

UK transport minister Stephen Hammond said: “The funding provided by the [UK] Government since 2011 is the first time any government has given direct funding to mountain rescue services.

“We recognise their commitment and that is why I am very pleased to be able to announce increased funding for 2015-16.”