§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what system of communications with emergency vehicles the police force, ambulance service and fire brigade have in each region of Scotland; what studies or discussions have been undertaken to make systems compatible with each other in each region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 10 January 1995]: All Scottish police forces and fire brigades operate mobile radio systems to common technical standards and the two services occupy adjacent bands of radio spectrum managed by the Scottish Office directorate of telecommunications. These systems are estimated to provide coverage to more than 95 per cent. of all class A and B roads, in addition to urban areas. The ambulance service is currently in the process of re-engineering its mobile radio network to the same coverage standards, with a new system currently fully operational in Grampian and Highlands and Islands.
Operationally, all normal inter-service communication takes place via the control rooms of the services involved. However, a common inter-agency radio channel has been agreed between all three services for local use where circumstances indicate that this would be advantageous.