EMERGENCY search-and-rescue services for the Isle of Man will not be affected by the closure of RAF Kinloss at the end of December.

That is the response from the government, given today in answer to a question in the House of Keys by Rushen MHK Quintin Gill.

Mr Gill was concerned that there may be a withdrawal or reduction in the service offered by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) which co-ordinates the deployment of the RAF’s national search and rescue capabilities including helicopters and mountain rescue teams.

However, Chief Minister Tony Brown said in a written reply that the services would continue and be relocated. He said, “The Government understands that the services provided to the Isle of Man as part of the UK’s search and rescue provision will not involve the withdrawal of services, simply their relocation. 

He added, “The ARCC is essentially a communications centre, which could in theory be based anywhere.  The main search and rescue provision that is extended to the Isle of Man under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Infrastructure and the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency is the provision of search and rescue helicopters.

“In the main these aircraft come from RAF Valley in Anglesey but on occasion also come from other UK air bases.”