§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many offshore emergency incidents have been dealt with by the search and rescue helicopter squadron at RAF Brawdy in each of the last five years; and how many such incidents have involved the winching of firefighters to stricken vessels.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe table gives the number of offshore emergency incidents dealt with by the search and rescue flight at RAF Brawdy over the past five years. Statistical data are not held on the number of incidents involving the winching of firefighters.
Year Callouts Persons Rescued 1988 71 53 1989 66 38 1990 62 92 1991 69 48 1992 63 15
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bases for search and rescue helicopter squadrons within the United Kingdom which have closed during the last 10 years, indicating the average response time to coastal and offshore emergencies(a) within a radius of 25 miles, (b) 50 miles, (c) 75 miles, (d) 100 miles and (e) 150 miles from the base both (i) prior to and (ii) following the removal of the service from the vicinity.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo bases with search and rescue helicopters have closed in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken by his Department to date concerning the effect of the removal of search and rescue helicopter squadrons upon localised emergency rescue arrangements.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe new basing structure for the RAF search and rescue helicopter force took into account, and will very largely meet, the established civil SAR criteria.