House of Commons · Westminster Hall
22 November 2023 · 1 other contributor · 3,918 words
Opened by Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Responding minister: Guy Opperman
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Alistair Carmichael raised concerns about helicopter search and rescue service in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Carmichael asks for transparency in the decision-making process, requesting that the document 'UKSAR2G' be made public and asking for a proper risk assessment to be published or conducted if it hasn't been done yet. He also requests clarity on the transition timeline of bases under the new contract.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Carmichael is concerned about the proposed changes to the helicopter search and rescue service, particularly the increase in readiness time from 15 minutes to 60 minutes for Sumburgh's Oscar Charlie helicopter. He mentions that this change could put lives at risk according to industry experts. He also highlights the lack of meaningful consultation with local communities and industries that rely on the service.
Commends the right hon. Gentleman for bringing forward concerns about HM Coastguard's search and rescue services, particularly regarding waiting times. Suggests that funding should be considered for a helicopter base in Northern Ireland to provide protection from potential mountain and water incidents. Welcomes the Minister's understanding but argues that Northern Ireland requires a quicker response time, noting the population of 1.95 million needs adequate service provision.
Government Response
Guy OppermanIt is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship. I thank and congratulate the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on bringing this issue before the House, which is important to his community in Shetland. The principle of having air ambulance or search and rescue available matters tremendously to rural or coastal communities. Funding to Maritime Coastguard Agency has gone up over the past few years with an ongoing £1.2 billion investment into search and rescue. A further £1.6 billion will be invested in maintaining and enhancing our search and rescue aviation fleet for the next 10 years through UK second-generation search and rescue aviation programme awarded to Bristow Helicopters in July 2022. No bases are being closed, with all existing bases continuing to provide a 24-hour search and rescue service supplemented by two new seasonal bases during summer months. Fixed-wing surveillance aircraft will be established at Newquay and Prestwick, equipped with maritime search technology; King Air B350 extended range will enhance capabilities in the mid-Atlantic region using innovative communication OneLink. An analysis of SAR incident data after UKSAR2G procurement has begun to assess potential impact on demand due to societal and economic upheaval during pandemic. Review of service areas against changes in demand, technical developments or innovations is allowed via contractual mechanisms and approval processes. Current helicopter bases in Scotland will remain open with additional fixed-wing capabilities and a seasonal base in north-west Scotland for enhancements. Leonardo AW189 provides high-endurance capability comparable to current Sikorsky S-92 operating at Sumburgh and Stornoway, following appropriate due diligence.