Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the financial solvency of the ultimate owner of Bristow Helicopters Limited; and when he last made such an assessment.

Bristow Group Inc is an indirect shareholder of our search and rescue helicopter provider, Bristow Helicopters Limited. Bristow Group issued cautionary guidance to investors on 11 February about a material weakness observed in the internal controls over its financial reporting going back to 31 March 2018.

Bristow Group intends to release further information on its financial position at the end of 2018 to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC), no later than 19 February 2019. An assessment of Bristow Group’s financial position will be made following the release of its quarterly results to the US SEC.

These current difficulties are contained within Bristow Group and do not affect the Department for Transport’s contract with Bristow Helicopters Limited.