PRIVATISED SEARCH AND RESCUE CONTRACT SHOULD NOT BE SIGNED BEFORE ELECTION

PRIVATISED SEARCH AND RESCUE CONTRACT SHOULD NOT BE SIGNED BEFORE ELECTION

SNP ARGUES FOR TRANSPARENCY

Following confirmation by the Ministry of Defence and UK Department of Transport that the Soteria Consortium is the preferred bidder for the privatised UK Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) capability, Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson MP said:

“I have always been sceptical of Labour’s plan to privatise all Search and Rescue cover. With a lack of transparency about the detailed PFI plans we need an assurance that no deal will be signed off until after the forthcoming UK General Election. Labour should not hurry to sign this privatisation plan before the election.

“Questions also remain unanswered about the long-range rescue cover usually provided by the RAF Nimrod fleet. With only weeks to go until the MR2 Nimrod aircraft are taken out of service there is still no confirmation how their vital role will be continued during the gap period before the delayed replacement MRA4 aircraft come into service.”