Just a wee point to note with respect to getting shot of the RAF MRS, they currently fulfil the MOD's duty to the DOT, ensuring the UK's land SAR element of the 1944 Chicago convention (Annex 12) is adhered too. In short, to maintain the UK's signatory status to this convention then the government would have to pump money into the civil side of Search and Rescue to provide a 24/7 UK wide SAR service. Given the current MRS budget of about 2 Mil per annum I feel it would be slightly optimistic to expect all of the UK SAR teams (low land and mountain) to provide the sort of cover provided by the RAF MRS at present for the sum of money they would receive.
StuMc