§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to local voluntary search and rescue organisations. [157439]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeLocal voluntary search and rescue organisations benefit from the support which the Home Office gives to the search and rescue community at the national level.
The Home Office (HO) provides technical advice on radio communications and spectrum matters to the National Controlling Committee which meets under the auspices of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The committee, among other activities, vets applications by local voluntary search and rescue organisations to use dedicated HO frequencies.
561WIt is anticipated that the work of this committee and HO support will be transferred during April 2001 to the United Kingdom Search and Rescue (SAR) Communications Working Group under the newly formed UK SAR Strategic Committee.