§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the effect on the cost of ambulances of the recent EU Directive relating to ambulances; and which European producers make ambulances consistent with the Directive. [123326]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 23 May 2000]: No estimate of the potential costs to National Health Service Ambulance Service trusts has been made of introducing the standards recommended by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) and adopted by the British Standards Institute (BSI). The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is working with the ambulance services 592W and manufacturers to determine the costs. Currently no European manufacturers make ambulance vehicles to the new CEN/BSI standards.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement setting out the implications of the EU Directive on ambulances; what the object of the Directive was; and what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government on it. [123325]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 23 May 2000]: Following a period of consultation with manufacturers and users, two new European standards for ambulance vehicles and their equipment were recommended by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) in August and September last year. Membership of CEN is wider than European Union member states and their recommendations have force only through the Public Procurement Legislative Programme. The object of this programme is to reduce technical barriers to trade throughout the European Free Trade Area.
The British Standards Institute adopted the CEN recommendations as national standards in January 2000. New ambulance vehicles and their equipment will be expected to conform to these standards in the future. We recognise that good purchasing practice by the ambulance services requires the inclusion of agreed standards in specifications where these exist.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances in the United Kingdom are consistent with the requirements of the EU Directive. [123327]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The new British Standards for ambulance vehicles and equipment were adopted in January this year and apply only to new vehicles specified and purchased after that date. The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency is currently working with NHS Ambulance Services trusts and vehicle manufacturers to identify those elements of the standards with which they are currently able to conform and the time scale for full compliance with the standards.