To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to carry out a formal consultation over their intention to establish a joint private finance initiative search and rescue helicopter service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; if so, whom they intend to consult; and over what timescale. [HL976]

The Search And Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) private finance initiative (PFI) competition strategy was announced by MoD and Department of Transport Ministers on 9 May 2006 (Official Report, col. 12WS).

The competition to bring together the search and rescue capability currently provided by the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency into one harmonised service continues, with two industrial consortia (AirKnight and Soteria) actively engaged. The result of the competition will be announced when an appropriately mature solution has been established.

We have regularly briefed interested parliamentarians and appropriate third parties through the UK SAR Strategic Committee throughout the competition.