Latest Press Releases
| CONCERNS OVER UK SEARCH AND RESCUE PLANS |
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| Monday, 28 November 2011 00:00 |
 Responding to a Written Statement on the future of Search and Rescue Helicopter services published by the UK Governmement SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP expressed concern at the withdrawal of the military from search and rescue operations in the UK.Mr Robertson said: “ The loss of military involvement from search and rescue services by the UK Government is misguided. The current arrangement of service personnel and civilian crew have worked well together and this should be maintained. “ Military involvement hones and maintains standards of operational training, which is good for the military and good for the search and rescue services as a whole. “ This announcement effectively means the end of all routine military helicopter flights in Scotland from the two remaining bases at RAF Lossiemouth and HMS Gannet. “ With the retirement of the Sea King fleet, there will no longer be a single military helicopter permanently based Scotland, and this is yet another cut to service personnel and vital capability. In contrast, our near neighbours in Norway and Demark operate 44 and 26 helicopters respectively. “ It is clear that the current Westminster Government are continuing the defence decline in Scotland that has seen 10,500 defence job losses and a £5.6billion underspend over the last decade.” |
