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| Prestwick loses search and rescue | Prestwick loses search and rescue |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Search and rescue operations are to be transferred from HMS Gannet at Prestwick to Glasgow under a new multi-billion pound deal agreed by the MoD. | Search and rescue operations are to be transferred from HMS Gannet at Prestwick to Glasgow under a new multi-billion pound deal agreed by the MoD. |
| The move places the navy base under serious threat and has left Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe "speechless". | The move places the navy base under serious threat and has left Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe "speechless". |
| The UK's search and rescue services (SAR) are all being transferred to the private sector under plans unveiled by ministers. | |
| A new service will combine the current work of the RAF, navy and coastguard. | A new service will combine the current work of the RAF, navy and coastguard. |
| The new deal will mean there are likely to be fewer helicopters, reduced from the current 38 around the UK, to possibly as few as 24. | The new deal will mean there are likely to be fewer helicopters, reduced from the current 38 around the UK, to possibly as few as 24. |
| It will mean the end of Gannet because search and rescue is 90% of what it does Brian DonohoeCentral Ayrshire MP | |
| However, ministers argue that newer faster and larger Sikorskys will replace the ageing Sea Kings and will provide a better service. | However, ministers argue that newer faster and larger Sikorskys will replace the ageing Sea Kings and will provide a better service. |
| The private consortium - which includes Royal Bank of Scotland - will begin to take over from 2012. | The private consortium - which includes Royal Bank of Scotland - will begin to take over from 2012. |
| Defence Minister Quentin Davies told BBC Scotland that under the £6bn deal, helicopters will not fly from the Prestwick base but will instead fly from Glasgow Airport. | Defence Minister Quentin Davies told BBC Scotland that under the £6bn deal, helicopters will not fly from the Prestwick base but will instead fly from Glasgow Airport. |
| More than 100 crew and other staff are based at Prestwick and Mr Donohoe said he would fight the plans. | More than 100 crew and other staff are based at Prestwick and Mr Donohoe said he would fight the plans. |
| The Labour MP said he was assured by a government minister that Gannet was safe, before learning that operations are to be moved to Glasgow Airport. | The Labour MP said he was assured by a government minister that Gannet was safe, before learning that operations are to be moved to Glasgow Airport. |
| Unanswered questions | |
| "I'm speechless. The reasons for moving search and rescue from Gannet are completely flawed," he said. | "I'm speechless. The reasons for moving search and rescue from Gannet are completely flawed," he said. |
| "It will mean the end of Gannet because search and rescue is 90% of what it does. | "It will mean the end of Gannet because search and rescue is 90% of what it does. |
| "It beggars belief. I was told that Gannet was safe. I'm beside myself with rage. | "It beggars belief. I was told that Gannet was safe. I'm beside myself with rage. |
| "The decision's been taken without even involving the local MP despite me being assured by the former defence secretary that this was all sorted and Prestwick was fine." | "The decision's been taken without even involving the local MP despite me being assured by the former defence secretary that this was all sorted and Prestwick was fine." |
| Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson MP, who represents Moray said: "I have always been sceptical of Labour's plan to privatise all search and rescue cover. | Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson MP, who represents Moray 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. | "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. |
| "Questions also remain unanswered about the long-range rescue cover usually provided by the RAF Nimrod fleet. | "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." | "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." |
| 'Purely commercial' | |
| A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "As part of the invitation to tender for the SAR-H contract it was decided that as Prestwick airport is a commercial airfield the preferred bidder could retain the SAR service at this site or relocate it to a nearby airfield as long as the terms and conditions of providing the SAR service in this region remain unaffected. | |
| "Soteria Consortium in their bid had made it clear that they would move the SAR service, currently provided by HMS Gannet, from Prestwick airport to Glasgow airport. | |
| "This decision was taken by Soteria for purely commercial reasons. | |
| "HMS Gannet, as a Royal Naval Air Station, has a wider military role and its future is not directly related to the SAR-H decision. However, all aspects of defence will be under scrutiny in the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review." |