HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 c325W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time for an officer to answer the telephone to a 999 call for the(a) London Ambulance Service, (b) Metropolitan Police and (c) London Fire Service in (i) 1999 to date, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1997; what were the target times in each of those periods; and what percentage of calls met those targets. [89253]

Mr. George Howarth

This information is not held centrally; however, the following information has been supplied by the London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police and London Fire ServiceThe London Ambulance Service answers approximately 90 per cent. of 999 calls within five seconds. It aims to achieve a target of 95 per cent. of calls within five seconds by April 2000. 99 per cent. of calls are answered within 15 seconds. The Metropolitan Police aims to answer 80 per cent. of calls within 15 seconds. In 1997, it answered 90.8 per cent. within target time; in 1998, 88.6 per cent; and to 30 June 1999, 80.2 per cent. The London Fire Brigade aims to answer 90 per cent. of calls within 20 seconds. In 1997 it answered 93 per cent. of calls in 6 seconds; in 1998, 96 per cent. of calls in 4 seconds; and to 29 June 1999, 96 per cent. of calls in 3 seconds.