§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that there should be a trained paramedic on all accident and emergency ambulances; what targets have been set relating to the provision of paramedics in the ambulance service; and what surveys have been carried out by his Department into the extent of such provision. [2429]
§ Mr. BoatengIt is the Department's policy that there should be a trained paramedic on every front line ambulance. There are some 6,500 paramedics working for National Health Service ambulance services in England and 32 of the 37 services are able to place a paramedic on every front line ambulance.