1) Doing search and rescue is an incredibly valuable way to maintain and build skills for our armed forces; 2) I find it hard to believe that the privatised contract will cost less than replacing the out-of-date aircraft; 3) Once you privatize this service, you're never going to go back. 4) It breaks a link between the public and the armed forces; it was one of the ways that people could see that they are there for our protection. 5) More of the costs can be kept within the UK economy, rather than handed to a foreign power.