§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the cost to the public Exchequer of the rescue in November of the two contestants, Mr. Ken Winmer and Baron Arnaud de Rosnay, in a cross-Channel wind-surfing race.
§ Mr. WigginI have been asked to reply.
The cost to the Exchequer of this rescue last October was £2,290, all incurred as the result of the use of an RAF Wessex search and rescue helicopter. A lifeboat was also involved but this service is not, of course, financed by the Exchequer.