§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the availability and respsonse of search and rescue services in Shetland to the recent incidents involving Klondykers, with particular reference to the Lunohods 1 on 9 November and the Borodinskye Poyle on 15 November; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisWe are indeed satisfied with the availability and response of the search and rescue services in general and in particular those in the Shetlands. In the case of the Lunohods 1 and Borodinskye Poyle the magnificent and heroic efforts of the crew of the coastguard helicopter and the Lerwick RNLI lifeboat are of special note, together with the invaluable support of coastguard response teams, the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, the offshore industry including a Norwegian infield helicopter, and the merchant vessels. All of these services, professionally and expertly co-ordinated by the Shetland coastguard maritime rescue sub-centre, worked together to save the lives of all 60 crew of the Lunohods 1 and all 74 crew of the Borodinskye Poyle.
Without doubt, these incidents were conducted in the best traditions of the United Kingdom search and rescue services and deserving of the highest praise for all those involved.