To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards bringing the Search and Rescue capability provided by his Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency together as a single service. (270912)

I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minster for Defence Equipment and Support, (Mr. Davies) on 13 January 2009, Official Report, column 559W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions bidders had to comply with in tendering for the contract to provide the Search and Rescue Service. (270913)

A Contract Notice inviting requests to participate in the competition for the provision of the harmonised UK search and rescue capability was issued in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 May 2006. Respondents were subsequently invited to demonstrate their understanding of the requirement and their experience, competence and suitability in relation to it. A number of suitable parties were selected for participation in a competitive dialogue procedure in accordance with European Union procurement regulations; two consortia remain.