I understand what you're saying vec but be careful with your words - your statement would suggest that the RN have a surplus of both manpower and airframes required to undertake the task they (the RN) are currently mandated to do. A bean counter could take that as suggesting you have 'surplus' or 'fat' in the system and therefore offer it up as "an efficiency measure". Whether that "savings" would be transferred elsewhere in the RN is another matter (or indeed to the RAF ....
...... but of course they would then spend it on the FJ force
)
As an aside is the SAR force considered joint in any form (as with Harrier and most rotary) or are they very much two seperate elements with two different tails and supporting heqadquarters etc? Not fishing, just curious!