HC Deb 17 December 1993 vol 234 cc1087-8W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultations he had with the national marine safety steering committee before the Ministry of Defence decision on search and rescue provision on 7 December;

(2) how many representations he made in respect of the Ministry of Defence review of search and rescue provision in south-west England and west Wales;

(3) when he was informed that the Ministry of Defence was reviewing its decision of October 1992 on search and rescue provision in south-west England and west Wales;

(4) what part his Department played in the review of search and rescue provision in south-west England and west Wales before the announcement made by the Ministry of Defence on 7 December;

(5) what consultations he had with the Wales district marine safety sub-committee before the Ministry of Defence decision on search and rescue provision of 7 December;

(6) when he was informed of the decision of the 1993 Ministry of Defence review of search and rescue provision in south-west England and west Wales.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 16 December 1993]: In October 1992, the MOD announced the decision to transfer Sea King coverage in the area from RAF Brawdy to RAF Chivenor, as part of the future provision of RAF search and rescue helicopters. In March this year, the Ministry of Defence informed the Department of Transport that a review of RAF training establishments was being carried out by RAF Support Command, which would include the future of RAF Chivenor. Officials in my Department discussed the implications of this for civil search and rescue. The Minister for Aviation and Shipping was informed on 6 December of the outcome of the MOD review of flying establishments and that the 1992 SAR decisions would stand. The United Kingdom search and rescue committee is responsible for reviewing the general arrangements for civil maritime and aviation search and rescue. Since the committee accepted the decisions in the 1992 open government document, there was no need to refer the conclusions of the review of training establishments to the committee.