§ 39. Mr. StevensTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the services have taken this year in disaster relief operations.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonSo far in 1989, the principal contribution to disaster relief overseas by the armed forces has been in the eastern Caribbean in September, dealing with the effects of Hurricane Hugo. HMS Alacrity and RFA Brambleleaf were delployed to the striken region where they carried out and co-ordinated relief operations in Montserrat and on neighbouring islands. An RAF Hercules was used to fly in a disaster relief team of Royal Engineers together with stores from the garrison in Belize. Hercules aircraft also undertook a regular shuttle of stores from Antigua to Montserrat and transported elements of the Bermuda Defence Regiment to assist with relief work in the British Virgin Islands.
The armed forces have also provided support to the civil emergency authorities in the United Kingdom. After the tragic air disasters at Lockerbie and Kegworth all three 431W services rendered assistance. At Lockerbie, up to 500 personnel per day were involved in the operation to recover bodies and search for wreckage during the period December 1988—January 1989. Similar assistance was given at Kegworth in January 1989 but on a smaller scale.