Farron backs Mountain Rescue teams at parliamentary event

Cumbrian MP, Tim Farron, attended an event yesterday in the House of Commons in support of the work of Mountain Rescue teams across the UK.

The event, which was attended by a number of MPs, was jointly hosted by Mountain Rescue and the British Cave Rescue Council.

Tim met with David Allan, Chairman of Mountain Rescue, and heard his concerns about the possibility of vital funding being withdrawn from March 2015.

Tim was instrumental in ensuring that Mountain Rescue in England and Wales receive the £200,000 a year in Government funding that is now under threat, by fighting to make sure it was included in the Coalition Agreement.

Commenting, Tim said:"Over 3,700 volunteers are involved in mountain rescue teams across the country, providing a vital service for our local community and keeping us safe.

"We should all be grateful for the essential and selfless work that they do. I'm concerned to hear that the funding that we fought so hard to win, and is vital to their survival is being threatened, and I will be calling on the Government to give a long term commitment to fund our mountain rescue teams.

"£200,000 is a small price to pay for the fantastic work that Mountain Search and Rescue do, in my constituency and up and down the country."