Plans to scrap RAF Lossiemouth search and rescue role condemned
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has criticised the UK Government’s decision to strip RAF Lossiemouth’s search and rescue role and let private contractors run it.
Minister announced on Monday that contractors will take over emergency helicopter operations across the UK.
The Ministry of Defence intends to retire its ageing fleet of helicopters - which operate out of Lossiemouth and other bases - by March 2016.
Search and rescue is provided from eight UK military bases and four civilian sites under contract to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The RAF Sea King Rescue 137 helicopter is a common sight in the skies over Badenoch and Strathspey taking part mountain hill rescues.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the new service would feature civilian-only crews and the new service would have faster, more modern choppers operating from 10 sites in the UK, adding that the move would let the armed forces focus on frontline operations.
The decision follows the recent decision to downgrade Aberdeen’s coastguard co-ordination centre and to close others at the Clyde and the Forth, while the long-term future of emergency tugs in the Western and northern isles have yet to be secured.
Mrs Grant said she was disappointed with the announcement, particularly as it came on the back of the other changes.
She said: "I had hoped that they had pulled back from these plans.
"It is a worry for people in the Highlands and Islands because the search and rescue have helped a lot of people who have got into difficulty in the mountains and at sea.
"After the changes in the coastguards and the changes to the emergency tugs, this is another change. I feel someone should have looked at it all in the round."
The UK Government shelved plans to privatise the helicopter search and rescue service in February amid claims there had been irregularities in the way a £6 billion deal was negotiated.
The process was disrupted when the favoured Soteria consortium disclosed alleged misconduct by an RAF officer involved in the process.
The UK Government expects to award a search and rescue contract in early 2013, and that the winning bidder would be expected to operate from 10 locations but provide at least the same level of service as at present.
The RAF Lossiemouth service is expected to be replaced by March 2016 at the latest.
