§ 55 and 56. Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) how many times air rescue units have been called out to boats in distress on the North-East coast in the last 12 months; and what steps have been taken to examine the reasons for these accidents happening;
(2) what proposals he has for reducing the need for air-sea rescue efforts.
§ Mr. RidsdaleThe helicopter detachment at Royal Air Force, Acklington, has been called our five times in the last twelve months to boats in distress off the coasts of Northumberland and Durham. We have ourselves no proposals for reducing the need for these rescues but we do of course send a report on each incident to the Ministry of Transport.