§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Air Ambulance Service is funded in each region in which it operates. [59691]
§ Mr. LammyFunding for ambulance services in England is provided by independent air ambulance charities.
In recognition of the time it takes local air ambulance charities to build their fundraising base, short-term government funding of £2.2 million has been made available across 2001–02 and 2002–03 to help the five air ambulance charities in England who have asked for temporary assistance in meeting their operational costs. The money will be shared between Yorkshire, Dorset and Somerset, North West, East Anglia and Thames Valley and Chiltern air ambulance.
In addition, in January 2002, guidance was issued to National Health Service ambulance trusts and their commissioners stating that the salary costs of the NHS clinical staff who crew that aircraft should be met from NHS funds. This equivalent to around £150,000 per aircraft each year or a total of around £2.1 million across England.
§ Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when decisions on the "Options for Change" consultation on the future of NHS dentistry will be made; and if he will make a statement. [59319]