'Could be the last' - We'd rather have the Super Puma/Cougar, but other than that a good idea.
Also, a point that no-one has raised yet - Bristows etc provide a very competent and effective SAR cover in their AORs. HOWEVER, the overriding majority of their crews, both front- and rear-end, come from a military SAR background. I would meekly suggest that if we privatise mil SAR, in 5-10 years time when the supply of ex-mil SAR crews dries up you will suddenly see the cost of the contract leap up as they have to pay for a massively increased training programme et al. Another fine example of the Birtish political system's inability to see aywhere beyond the next General Election.
The removal of the britmil pipe-and-slippers brigade, much as we love to banter them, would also lead to a further loss of expertise in the basic SAR techniques at the front-line as the cross-pollenisation between SAR and SH would obviously cease. But on the plus side it would remove some of the more embarassing elements of the RAF aircrew fraternity that seem to get squirrelled away at SARTU. So maybe it is worth it after all
