Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 23 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 May 2006. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Monday, 5 June 2006 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Helicopter Searches

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions a helicopter from RAF Benson was used to assist a police search for a missing person in each of the last five years;
Answer

No RAF helicopters from RAF Benson have been used to assist police searches for missing persons in the last five years.No RAF helicopters from RAF Benson were used in the search for Dr. David Kelly on 18 July 2003. However, I understand that a Chiltern Air Support Unit police helicopter which is based at RAF Benson was on standby but not used. I am informed that a police helicopter from the Chiltern Air Support Unit based at Luton was used in the search.Details of the personnel based at RAF Benson on the 17 July 2003 were as follows:

Number of personnel
RAF personnel 1,379
Army personnel 18
Navy personnel 2
MOD civilian personnel 166
Non-MOD (contractors) 150
Foreign 2 (exchange aircrew from Canada and the United States)

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
74199; 447 c40W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
RAF Benson
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk