Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans his Department has for delivering the search and rescue service in North West Wales should Bristow Helicopters not be able to fulfil its contractual obligations to provide that service.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government is confident that Bristow Helicopters Ltd will be able to fulfil all of its UK-wide contractual obligations, including those in north west Wales. In the very unlikely event that Bristow cannot fulfil its obligations, then the Government can take action under the Bristow contract to guarantee the continuity of the search and rescue helicopter service.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Bristow Helicopters on future service levels for the search and rescue helicopter service in North West Wales.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
I have had no discussions with Bristow Helicopters Ltd on future service levels under the UK search and rescue helicopter contract.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Bristow Helicopters on that company's contingency plans should it no longer be profitable for it to run the search and rescue service in North West Wales.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Bristow Helicopters Ltd is contracted to provide a search and rescue helicopter service covering the whole of the UK for a ten year period. The Government is satisfied that Bristow is fully able to deliver this service as contracted for the entirety of the contract period.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the future of the search and rescue helicopter service in North West Wales.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
I have not received any representations from the Welsh Government on the search and rescue helicopter service in north west Wales.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what targets and performance measures his Department has specified for levels of service from the company which will operate the search and rescue helicopter service in North West Wales.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The new search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard will match the service levels provided by the current military and Coastguard SAR helicopters.