§ Lord MOTTISTONEasked Her Majesty's Governent:
(a) what is the cost to the Exchequer of civilian air/sea rescue missions flown by RN and RAF helicopters in and around the United Kingdom in 1979; and (b) what are the numbers of civilians rescued in such missions in 1979.
§ Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYALRoyal Navy and Royal Air Force helicopters are established primarily for military purposes. They nevertheless undertake a large number of civilian search and rescue missions mostly at sea but including a small number of cliff 719WA and mountain rescues also. The extra cost to the Exchequer of these civilian missions in 1979 was approximately £ 1,000,100. In all 909 civilians were rescued. However, 1979 cannot be regarded as a wholly typical year because of the Fastnet rescue operation which accounted for approximately 10 per cent. of the quoted costs and involved the rescue of 139 individuals.
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force helicopters are only one element of the United Kingdom Search and Rescue services which also include RAF Nimrods, other Service resources, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and a number of civilian facilities.