Cuts 'putting lives at risk'

LOTHIAN Labour MP Fiona O'Donnell has accused the UK Government of showing "a complete disregard for human life" over plans to cut coastguard stations.

She and Dunfermline and West Fife Labour MP Thomas Docherty have written jointly to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond attacking the government's failure to carry out a proper risk assessment over the proposed closures.

The plans to modernise coastguard services involve reducing the number of coastguard bases from 18 to eight across the country, including the closure of Fife Ness, which covers the Firth of Forth.

Ms O'Donnell said: "This government has shown a complete disregard for human life."