§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many helicopters are based at each coastguard station south of a line from the Wash to Liverpool Bay; and what the target response times are for coastguard helicopters. [31802]
§ Mr. JamiesonDeclared Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters are strategically located around the United Kingdom according to coverage requirements; they are not based at coastguard stations although some are based close to them. South of a line from the Wash to Liverpool Bay, SAR helicopters are based at:
Base Hours standby Wattisham, Suffolk MOD—RAF 24 Lee on Solent, Hampshire MCA—HMCG 24 Portland, Dorset MCA—HMCG 112 Culdrose, Cornwall MOD—RN 24 Chivenor, Devon MOD—RAF 24 Valley, North Wales MOD—RAF 24 10900–2100 standby At each base there is a primary helicopter and crew prepared for emergency response. In addition, at RAF SAR helicopter units, when available, a second aircraft and crew maintains a one-hour standby from 0800 to Evening Civil Twilight or 1800, whichever is the later, but not later than 2200 local time.
The criteria for SAR helicopter coverage require that a SAR helicopter should take off as quickly and safely as possible, normally within 15 minutes by day and 45 minutes by night, from receiving notification of the incident by the appropriate Rescue Co-ordination Centre. SAR helicopters should be capable of reaching all very high and high risk areas and 75 per cent. of all medium risk areas within the UK Search and Rescue Region within 60 minutes of take-off.