HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc51-2W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment has been made by his Department of the impact of a withdrawal of the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon response times in dealing with coastal and offshore emergencies in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke North constituency;

(2) what has been the average response time taken by Sea-king helicopters from RAF Brawdy to reach the scene of a coastal or offshore emergency in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke North constituency in each of the last three years; and if he will publish estimated response times for helicopters from (a) RAF Chivenor and (b) RAF Valley to reach future coastal or offshore emergencies in or near the constituency;

(3) what research has been conducted by his Department on the effect of withdrawing the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon established contingency plans drawn up by the Dyfed fire brigade to deal with offshore emergencies;

(4) what estimate he has made of how many lives have been saved in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke North constituency in each of the last five years, due specifically to the swift response of the search and rescue helicopter squadron at RAF Brawdy.

Mr. David Hunt

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet representatives of the Dyfed county fire brigade to discuss the implications of withdrawing the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon responses to coastal and offshore emergencies in and around the county.

Mr. David Hunt

Such discussions would be, in the first instance, for my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made by his Department into the effect of withdrawing the search and rescue helicopter squadron from RAF Brawdy upon the training needs of local county firefighters in tackling offshore emergencies.

Mr. David Hunt

Such matters would be, in the first instance, for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.