§ Lord Roganasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current arrangements for air sea rescue in Northern Ireland; and [HL789]
Whether there is a plan to change the arrangements for air sea rescue in Northern Ireland; and if so, what the new arrangements will be. [HL790]
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)Air sea rescue in Northern Ireland is currently provided by Wessex helicopters, which are not specialist search and rescue (SAR) units, based at RAF Aldergrove, and by Ministry of Defence (SAR) helicopters based at Royal Naval Air Station Prestwick and Royal Air Force Valley.
The Wessex aircraft is expected to be withdrawn on 31 March 2002. The cover provided by the Ministry of Defence helicopters will continue. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence has undertaken to maintain helicopter availability in Northern Ireland at one hour's notice for search and medical evacuations to support the mainland SAR helicopters.