Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are taken by his Department to initiate rescue arrangements in the event of aircraft accidents, whether civil or military, outside but within a reasonable distance of the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.
Mr. WardR.A.F. rescue facilities are brought to immediate readiness as soon as an alert is declared by a United Kingdom air traffic control centre. As soon as help is requested, search and rescue action is taken including the despatch of aircraft where appropriate. In the case of civil aircraft in distress near the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom's responsibility for search and rescue is limited to48W British national Flight Information Regions. But we always do our best to meet requests to supplement search and rescue arrangements in adjoining regions.