§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many times helicopters have been called on in air-sea rescue and search operations for each year since 1970; and from which bases they took place.
§ Mr. JohnOur records do not distinguish between rescue operations over land and those over the sea, and the figures for 1970 and 1971 are not complete. Subject to that, the information in respect of Service helicopters is as follows:
§ Mr. JohnIn the United Kingdom, the Royal Air Force deploys 8 detachments, of two Whirlwind helicopters each, at Acklington, Brawdy, Chivenor, Coltishall, Leconfield, Leuchars, Lossiemouth and 405W Valley, together with a detachment of two Wessex helicopters at Manston, at high states of readiness specifically for air-sea rescue work. The Royal Navy similarly deploys two detachments of two Whirlwinds each at Culdrose and Lee-on-Solent. For long-range search and rescue, the Royal Air Force maintains a Nimrod aircraft on permanent standby at either Kinloss or St. Mawgan. A considerable number of other aircraft can be made available by both Services in emergency to back up these primary facilities.
Neither the Royal Navy nor the Royal Air Force maintains surface vessels specifically for search and rescue but all vessels have an accepted international obligation to assist in emergencies at sea. The Services can provide a wide range of assistance when required.
No distinction is made between civil and military incidents when responding to an emergency call.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many air-sea searches by Nimrod aircraft have been carried out for each of the years since 1970.
§ Mr. JohnThe information is as follows:
United Kingdom Overseas 1970 6 — 1971 8 1 1972 23 7 1973 33 5 1974 24 9 Until 1972 the majority of long-range air-sea searches were carried out by the Shackleton and the figures for this aircraft are as follows:
United Kingdom Overseas 1970 69 23 1971 59 14 1972 21 0 1973 6 0 1974 4 0