Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP) said, "This new arrangement marks an alarming move towards the privatisation of emergency services, as search and rescue responsibilities will be taken away from the Royal Navy and handed over to a privately funded conglomerate.

“This raises the fundamental question of how our emergency services are delivered. Public emergency services are best delivered by public bodies, without money being drained off for private profit. Each year, naval personnel at the HMS Gannet naval base, along with dedicated rescue volunteers, respond to over 300 incidents, and following this particularly treacherous winter, a decision that might reduce the capability of search and rescue teams seems dangerous and foolish.

“As an avid hill walker, I greatly appreciate the excellent naval helicopter crews as well as the mountain rescue volunteers that assist them. I feel that replacing the Royal Navy helicopter crews with private ones may very well jeopardise those in need of emergency assistance on Scotland’s mountains.”