THE Government cannot step into the row over the future of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Salisbury MP Robert Key raised the contentious issue in a backbench debate in the House of Commons yesterday.

And during the debate Home Office minister Meg Hillier told MPs in the Commons that helicopter funding issues were not something over which the Government had control.

But she also said the case for the service had been well made during the special half-hour debate on the service's future.

The debate was called by the Conservative MP following concerns that the Great Western Ambulance Service may pull out of the shared Wiltshire Police helicopter and air ambulance service.

Although GWAS has said it wants to continue with the shared helicopter in Wiltshire, for one to two years while it undertakes a review of air ambulance cover, Wiltshire's chief constable Brian Moore said the police wanted a firmer commitment.

The force wants the service to commit to another five years of joint operation.

The senior police officer also said that if GWAS did not sign up to that length of service, the police would not be able to fund the shortfall. And that would mean the helicopter would be grounded.

Since then a campaign run by the Advertiser's sister paper, the Gazette and Herald, has been backed by thousands of anxious people across the county.

Mr Key's debate call won the backing of Wiltshire MPs, including Devizes MP Michael Ancram, and Swindon MPs Michael Wills and Anne Snelgrove.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray took part in the debate. He said: "Will the Government take this opportunity to reiterate that it believes that it is important that the county of Wiltshire should have the use of a police helicopter for the foreseeable future?"

After saying helicopter funding was not within the control of the Government, the minister said: "I think the points have been well made and anyone involved in those discussions (on the future of the service) cannot not be absolutely clear about the importance of continuance of this service to the Wiltshire members."

Speaking after the debate, Mr Gray said: "We were not expecting any firm result over this - it was more about getting this issue talked about."