There is, rightly, shock and anger at the news our Portland-based search and rescue helicopter will go in 2017. This after months and months of campaigning to save it. The arguments for retention are indisputable and we thought the Minister had seen the light when he eventually came to Dorset recently to listen to our views. But at 0001 on Tuesday, the Government announced that Bristow had won the £1.6 billion contract to run 10 airbases around the UK. I predict now that lives will be lost, certainly in our area. The Government has based its decision on "bigger and faster" aircraft and, without any consultation at all, imposed this template on an unsuspecting nation. Portland costs a pittance to run - c£5 million a year - which in the great scheme of things is nothing, especially when you consider we are giving £50 million a day to the EU and billions of pounds more to overseas aid. The Department for Transport has calculated that each life lost on the roads costs about £1.6 million. They agree that this figure can be used for other calculations, such as costing search and rescue. So, in round figures, the Portland helicopter only has to save three lives to pay for itself. When you consider the aircraft broke CAA rules by landing 25 very seriously ill cases at Dorset County Hospital, simple mathematics would tell you that that was a potential saving of £40 million! I am angry and bitterly disappointed at the Government's decision, which puts my constituents and the millions of visitors to Dorset each year at risk, and this is not acceptable.