Chancellor Pledges £1 Million To Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Chancellor George Osborne has pledged £1 million towards buying a new air ambulance
Chancellor George Osborne has pledged £1 million towards buying a new air ambulance for Yorkshire following an approach from cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott. During a visit to the helicopter's base near Wakefield, Mr Osborne said the cash was coming from fines levied on banks. "Geoffrey Boycott asked the Government for support, and I am delighted to able to donate £1m towards funding a new helicopter for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance,'' he said. "It's a brilliant charity that saves lives across Yorkshire, a county very much at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. "This funding - and the £10 million the Government has donated to air ambulances across the country in the past year - comes from fines levied on banks, and it's only right that funds from those who have demonstrated the worst values should go to those, like the dedicated and skilled air ambulance crews and their supporters who demonstrate the best of British values on a daily basis." Boycott said: "Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a much needed charity servicing the five million of us here in God's own country. "They need to raise £12,000 a day to keep both helicopters maintained and in the air and a lot of their support currently comes from those they have helped or a relative.
"But the truth is none of us know when we, or a loved one, may have a life or death situation and need their assistance." The former England batsman said: "I also wrote to the chancellor and today is a fantastic response to that letter. I know the people of Yorkshire will join in with us to say a very big thank you." Peter Sunderland, chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said the cash will go towards replacing the older of its two helicopters. He said:
"We have been working hard over the last few years to build our reserves, to ensure that when the time is right, we will be able to provide the people of Yorkshire with a brand new, state of the art helicopter with the latest medical equipment and facilities.
This generous donation from the chancellor will put us in an ideal position to consolidate and look at the options which will ensure the continuation of this life-saving service for the next 25 years.''