Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MP

Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon Tweed

 Alan Beith

Beith to challenge Defence Secretary over Seach and Rescue cover

5.30.00pm GMT Thu 29th Oct 2009

RAF SAR Seaking at RAF Boulmer (photography: Clare Mills)

Questions must be answered about the lack of Search and Rescue cover, says Lib Dem MP Sir Alan Beith.

Berwick-upon-Tweed's Liberal Democrat MP is to challenge the Defence Secretary over the provision of Search and Rescue cover in the House of Commons on Monday.

The MP has been campaigning for the return to 24 hour cover from RAF Boulmer following news that cover had been reduced to 12 hour daytime shifts due to a lack of trained personnel. Although the Ministry of Defence assured Sir Alan that 24 hour cover was being resumed, questions have continued to be asked over the level of cover which is being provided for the north east and Cumbria.

Sir Alan said

"I have been made aware of ongoing concerns at RAF Boulmer and also at other bases around the country and I am very concerned that people's lives could be put at risk due to a lack of trained personnel doing this important and highly skilled work.

"Our highly valued search and rescue service is desperately undermanned.

"I am speaking with the Minister regularly and will continue to push for answers and, more importantly, action on this issue."

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Next news story: Beith backs Poppy Appeal (Mon 2nd Nov 2009).

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