HC Deb 15 July 1994 vol 246 cc817-8W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) RAF and (b) RN Sea King and Wessex search-and-rescue helicopters are expected to be available in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997;

(2) how many (a) RAF and (b) RN Sea King and Wessex search-and-rescue helicopters were available, serviceable or being serviced on 1 January 1994 and how many are expected to be available, serviceable or being serviced on 31 December 1994;

(3) how many (a) RAF and (b) RN Sea King and Wessex search-and-rescue helicopters were available, serviceable or being serviced in 1993.

Mr. Hanley

For the RAF the total number of SAR helicopters available, serviceable or being serviced, were as follows:

1993 1 January 1994 31 December 1994
Sea King 17 17 17
Wessex 17 16 11

On current plans, the RAF will have the following numbers of SAR helicopters deployed in the United Kingdom:

1 April 1995 1 April 1996 1 April 1997
Sea King 17 23 23
Wessex 9 6 Nil

A total of five Sea Kings are normally made available by the Royal Navy for the search and rescue task. As SAR is not a primary task of RN helicopters, however, future availability cannot be determined with any precision.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions or protocols govern RAF Wessex search-and-rescue helicopters missions at night or in bad weather; and how they differ from those in respect of the RAF Sea King search-and-rescue helicopters.

Mr. Hanley

I will write to the hon. Member