§ 33. Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Defence Review will include examination of the provision of search and rescue helicopters around the United Kingdom. [2074]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Strategic Defence Review will decide how our Armed Forces should be structured, equipped and deployed to meet our national interests and commitments. The primary role of our search and rescue helicopters in peacetime is to provide cover for military exercises and training flights, although in a secondary role they also make a significant contribution to civil search and rescue.