If the RAF is planning on cutting all of its Tornado fleet and nearly all of its Harrier Force, then how can it ever justify keeping SAR in its present form?
I fully accept that the RAF won't keep SAR in its present form, but one could make an argument to justify it - someone has to provide SAR, out of the Govt purse, so if the RAF can provide a decent and cost effective service (and that would seem to be the case when compared with SAR-H), why not let the RAF keep it?
There is also an argument for having the UK's fleet of SAR helicopters under military management, so that they can be used for other military tasks should the situation arise. Unlikely, you may say, but never say never!