§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many emergency services there are; and whether they believe it to be misleading for a commercial organisation to promote itself as the "Fourth Emergency Service". [HL165]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe term emergency services in primary legislation commonly covers the police, ambulance and fire service. However, there are other services that can provide emergency response, for example Ministry of Defence bomb disposal or the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue. These organisations are also granted certain exemptions to allow them to carry out their functions; for example, the use of blue lights.
It is for the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to rule on whether advertisements are legal, decent, honest and truthful. In August 1999, the ASA published their adjudication on the use of the term "Fourth Emergency Service" by the Automobile Association, finding the advertisement acceptable. The claim is qualified by the preceding words "To our members, we are the Fourth Emergency Service".