§ Mr. SwireTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be making an announcement on the future of the Bristow helicopter operation at Portland. [98650]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis Government is committed to ensuring the continued provision of appropriate civilian maritime search and rescue services for our coasts. We have listened very carefully to all the arguments for and against moving the helicopter based at Portland and announced last week that the Coastguard helicopter will continue to fly from there. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is now in a position to let a new contract for the continued provision of a helicopter based at Portland for beyond May 2003, when the current contract expires.