Piesupper
As you accused my post (#61) of ignorance, I feel that I should be permitted an opportunity to respond.
My post had nothing to do with a service provided for the public out of taxation.
All of the instances mentioned involved personnel and assets that are placed in the northern part of Britain because it is used for military flying. Take the military flying away and those supporting personnel and assets that provide (in your words) 'co-incidental' benefit to the wider population go with it. (Hence the reason why there isn't a great deal of military SAR cover (rotary or land-based) in the south-east of England).