To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what will be the reduction, in square miles, between the European waters area currently covered by a one-hour response time for search and rescue helicopters as illustrated in annex A of "The Future Provision of RAF Search and Rescue Helicopters" and that illustrated in annex B in (a) the south-west approaches, St. George's channel Irish sea area, (b) southern North sea and Dover straits and (c) the North sea area between Peterhead and Flamborough head;
Information in the form requested is available only from financial year 1991–92 and is as follows:(2) what was the total area in square miles in the United Kingdom search and rescue region outside the standard one-hour response time
(a) as illustrated in annex A of the defence open government document, "The Future Provision of RAF Search and Rescue Helicopters" and (b) as illustrated in annex C of the same document;
(3) how large an area in square miles will be outside the standard one-hour response time within the United Kingdom search and rescue region for search and rescue helicopters as a result of redeploying Sea King flight 202 to RAF Chivenor from RAF Brawdy;
(4) how large an area, in square miles, and how many miles of coastline, his Department calculated would be outside the standard one-hour response time for search and rescue helicopters when considering whether to transfer Sea Kings from RAF Boulmer to RAF Leuchars.
The information required is not readily available within the timescale requested and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.