Search and Rescue (Hansard, 27 October 1988)

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each Royal Air Force and Royal Navy search and rescue detachment in the United Kingdom, together with the number of ground and aircrew employed on search and rescue duties at each base, the number of search and rescue helicopters and other aircraft at each base and the cost of each detachment in 1987–88.

§ Mr. Freeman
A list of search and rescue (SAR) stations and aircraft assigned to the SAR role was included in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 8 June 1988 at column566. It is not our practice to give numbers of other operational aircraft, or of personnel assigned to specific operational roles.
On the subject of costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 1 July 1988, at columns 225–26.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each Royal Air Force and Royal Navy search and rescue detachment the total number of call outs in each year since 1984, the number of civilians and number of service personnel rescued.

§ Mr. Freeman
The figures requested by my hon. Friend are as follows:
339W

Station Number of Callouts Rescues: Civilians Service personnel

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988

Stafford 3 6 8 11 10 2 — 3 8 3 — — — — —

Linton on Ouse 11 6 13 13 4 11 — 2 2 — — — — — —

¹ The figures exclude a small number of sorties and rescues carried out by units which are not assigned to the SAR role.

² The statistics for Lee-on-Solent cover the period up to 15 May 1988, when the military search and rescue (SAR) service at the station was withdrawn. A temporary RAF flight operated from Lee between 31 March, when the RN flight was withdrawn, and 15 May.

³ Nimrod MR aircraft operating from St. Mawgan and Kinloss provide assistance to SAR operations and may drop life-saving stores, but do not carry out rescues.

Station	Number of Callouts	Rescues: Civilians	Service personnel
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Stafford	3	6	8	11	10	2	—	3	8	3	—	—	—	—	—
Linton on Ouse	11	6	13	13	4	11	—	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
¹ The figures exclude a small number of sorties and rescues carried out by units which are not assigned to the SAR role.
² The statistics for Lee-on-Solent cover the period up to 15 May 1988, when the military search and rescue (SAR) service at the station was withdrawn. A temporary RAF flight operated from Lee between 31 March, when the RN flight was withdrawn, and 15 May.
³ Nimrod MR aircraft operating from St. Mawgan and Kinloss provide assistance to SAR operations and may drop life-saving stores, but do not carry out rescues.