§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he can now make a statement regarding his plans to develop the civil search and rescue organisation.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisA plan to develop and improve the civil search and rescue services has been formulated in consultation with other Departments and organisations responsible. The plan, which particularly affects Her Majesty's Coastguard, includes:
- 1. Moving the headquarters of Her Majesty's Coastguard from London to Poole, where the headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is now located.
- 2. Providing a new central SAR information room at Poole. This will be manned around the clock by the Coastguard to monitor SAR incidents and ensure that the right resources are brought to bear on fast-changing situations.
- 3. Concentrating senior Coastguard staff at the strategically-placed existing 28 rescue headquarters around the coast. Five of these headquarters are likely to become new area headquarters where the more complex rescues, and those further from the coast, will be supervised.
- 4. Improving Royal Navy helicopter cover of the Channel, Western Approaches, Irish Sea and Western Scottish waters through the permanent provision of long-range Sea King helicopters on 24-hour standby at Culdrose, Cornwall, and Prestwick, Ayrshire, for SAR and by the replacement of Whirlwind helicopters at Culdrose, and later Lee-on-Solent, by Wessex helicopters.
- 5. Updating many Coastguard procedures and strengthening co-operation with the other organisations concerned,
599 particularly the Post Office, which provides the coastal radio stations. - 6. Preparing new long-term Coastguard planning systems for equipment to ensure that the latest technology is brought to bear on SAR problems. For example current trials include radio direction finding at certain stations.
The timing of those parts of the plan which involve increased expenditure will, of course, depend on their relative priorities within the Government's programme of public expenditure. Further details of this plan are given in an article in the 1st August edition of Trade and Industry and I am arranging for copies of this edition to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
I would like to take this opportunity of calling attention to a handbook entitled the "United Kingdom Marine Search and Rescue Organisation 1975" which was published on 11th July. This
Date Operator Type Flight Number Maximum Noise Level PNdB 6th July … … International Aviation Services … … B707 FF583 123 26th April … … Pan American Airways … … B707 PA1459 120 17th May … … Trans World Airlines … … B707 TW605 119 3rd May … … British Airways (OD) … … B707 BA409 119 28th April … … Air India … … B707 AI121C 118 9th May … … British Airways (OD) … … B707 BA159 118 5th May … … Trans World Airlines … … B707 TW8388 118 7th June … … Seaboard World … … DC8 SB301 118 10th July … … Zambia Airways … … B707 QZ805 118 17th July … … Trans World Airlines … … B707 TW8409 118 This list does not include any noise levels registered by Concorde take-offs during the curent endurance flying programme, details of which will be released after its completion.
§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the approximate number of homes and of people living within the areas which qualify for full
East of Heathrow West of Heathrow Homes People Homes People Eligible for full grant … … 2,000 6,000 1,000 3,000 Eligible for partial grant … … 14,000 42,000 8,000 24,000 Total … … 16,000 48,000 9,000 27,000