Search and Rescue (Hansard, 14 November 1988)

§ Mr. Speller
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his decision on the possible redeployment of 22 Search and Rescue Squadron, RAF Chivenor; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to make an announcement as to the findings of the review of search and rescue operations at RAF Leuchars; and if he will make a statement.

§ Miss Emma Nicholson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions he has reached on the deployment of military search and rescue helicopters in England.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Search and Rescue helicopter flight at RAF Leuchars.

§ Mr. Freeman
As we announced on 4 December 1986 at columns 725–6 by the then Secretary of State for Transport, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Transport have been reviewing the arrangements for search and rescue helicopter coverage in the light of the recommendations of the United kingdom SAR committee. This review has been a lengthy one because of the need not only to safeguard essential military SAR requirements in peace and war, but to take full account of civilian SAR needs.
A number of steps have already been taken to improve SAR helicopter coverage. Military SAR helicopter redeployments at Leconfield, Coltishall, Manston and Portland have already improved overall coverage in the Channel area and on the east coast. Coastguard helicopters have been provided by the Department of Transport at Stornoway and Lee-on-Solent, in addition to Sumburgh. The call-out time of the RN Sea Kings at Culdrose was upgraded on 1 April this year, significantly improving coverage in the south west.
It is now intended to improve the call-out times of the RN Sea Kings at Prestwick from summer 1989. This will provide improved SAR coverage in central Scotland and off the west coast.
RAF Sea Kings will remain at Brawdy, Lossiemouth and Boulmer; and RAF Wessex at Valley. It has also been decided to retain RAF SAR Wessex at Leuchars and Chivenor; with the improved Sea King service at Prestwick and Culdrose and the S-61N at Lee on Solent, particularly at night, the Wessex aircraft at Leuchars and Chivenor will operate during daylight hours only every day from autumn 1989. There will be two Wessex at each station, one of which will be an in-use reserve aircraft.
The net effect of these changes, which have been fully endorsed by the Department of Transport, is greatly to improve overall SAR coverage in the United Kingdom and surrounding waters, benefiting both military personnel and civilians alike.