Rescue service privatisation scrapped

As part of the coalition Government’s budget cuts, the privatisation plans for search and rescue services (SAR) will not now go ahead. This means that the planned transfer of (SAR) from HMS Gannet in Prestwick to Glasgow Airport and the replacement of the ageing Sea Kings with new search and rescue helicopters to be run by a private consortium has been put on hold.

The Treasury has announced a review of the privatisation of SAR operations across the UK which was signed off by the previous Labour government. A private consortium, Soteria, had been appointed to take over SAR operations from 2012. The total cost of the project was estimated at more than £7bn, according to the Ministry of Defence. The new service run by the consortium was to combine the current work of the RAF, navy and coastguard.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, announced that the privatisation would be reviewed by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Transport. The plans did not include any changes to the way Mountain Rescue services are funded or organised.