The Royal Navy, along with RAF and Coastguard, currently provide rescue helicopter cover in Britain's mountains

The Royal Navy, along with RAF and Coastguard, currently provide rescue helicopter cover in Britain's mountains

The chair of a House of Commons select committee has told a Government minister there are worries the closure of two search and rescue helicopter bases might lead to more deaths.

MP Louise Ellman, who heads the transport committee, wrote to Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin to express the MPs concern over planned changes to how rescue aircraft operate.

At present, RAF, Royal Navy and Coastguard crews provide cover for non-military rescues in the UK, often providing invaluable backup to the volunteer mountain rescue teams who often call on the helicopters to reach stricken walkers, climbers and mountain bikers.

Using the armed forces’ Sea Kings and the Coastguard’s Sikorsky helicopters often saves valuable time, particularly when serious injuries or medical conditions are reported.

But the service is due to be privatised in four years’ time, after the original procurement process, set up under the previous Labour Government, was abandoned because of irregularities in the bidding process.

The new plans involve the closure of the Coastguard service at Portland in Dorset and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.

Ms Ellman, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, also questioned why there had been no public consultation on the plans, particularly for the inland services by SAR helicopters.

The ageing Sea Kings are due to be replaced under the privatisation

The ageing Sea Kings are due to be replaced under the privatisation

She said: “We were both surprised and disappointed to hear that the decisions to withdraw the Portland and Boulmer SAR helicopters were not the subject of prior consultation on these specific proposals.

“There are understandable concerns that the withdrawal of these bases will lead to slower response times and increased fatalities in the areas affected.

“In addition, the important role played by these helicopters in supporting other services, such as air ambulances, does not seem to have been taken into account.”

The committee chair added: “People rightly expect that their views and concerns will be listened to by Government and taken into account before decisions are reached.

“We understand that the final invitation to tender for the SAR helicopter contract has not yet been issued. Before doing so, we urge you to listen to the views of people affected by the proposed closures and to publish your response to the concerns expressed.”

The bid to privatise the UK’s search and rescue helicopters has been mired in controversy. In February 2011 the then Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the Government had been made aware that commercially sensitive information had been obtained by one of the companies involved in the consortium chosen to run the £7bn scheme.

The process was halted. Mr Hammond said: “In mid-December, the preferred bidder in the SAR-H competition, Soteria, voluntarily came forward to inform the Government of irregularities regarding the conduct of their bid team which had only then recently come to light.

The Coastguard operates bigger Sikorsky S92A helicopters out of Stornoway at present

The Coastguard operates bigger Sikorsky S92A helicopters out of Stornoway at present

“The irregularities included access by one of the consortium members, CHC Helicopter, to commercially sensitive information regarding the joint Ministry of Defence-Department for Transport project team’s evaluations of industry bids and evidence that a former member of that project team had assisted the consortium in its bid preparation, contrary to explicit assurances given to the project team.”

The new bidding process involves Aberdeen-based Bond Offshore Helicopters, US company Bristow Group and Canada’s CHC.