§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether there have been any further developments in respect of provision of search and rescue helicopters since 3 November.
§ Mr. MooreThe United Kingdom SAR committee endorsed the report of its working group at a meeting on 1 December. The report, a copy of which I am placing in the Library, contains some important recommendations, the most significant of which are
that standard criteria should be agreed for the provision of SAR helicopter coverage around the UK for civil marine and aviation purposesthat provision be made for a new SAR helicopter facility with an all weather-night capability in north-west Scotland and based in the Outer Hebridesthat provision be made to keep a SAR helicopter in the Solent area and for this key facility to be upgraded to a full all weather-night capabilityThe report also recommends that the Ministry of Defence be requested to advise on the implications of shortening, for SAR purposes, call out times of Sea King helicopters at Prestwick and Culdrose; as well as other matters relating to types and capabilities of aircraft.
728WI welcome the report and will study its recommendations urgently.
My Department and the Ministry of Defence will carry out a joint review of the arrangements for SAR coverage around the United Kingdom coast, in the light of the report.
In the meantime, a helicopter will be provided in north-west Scotland as soon as possible and we are considering urgently with MOD how best to do this.