§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will establish a helicopter emergency service for Wales with a headquarters in Mid-Wales.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:No. The Service Search and Rescue Organisation, which consists of helicopters of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force (supplemented when appropriate by R.A.F. Shackleton Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft), exists to meet Service requirements and primarily for search and rescue tasks at sea. Within these resources, assistance is given to the general public and this includes assistance inland. In fact, search and rescue helicopters established at R.N.A.S. Brawdy, R.A.F. Valley and R.A.F. Chivenor provide coverage which extends over the whole of Wales.