§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve ambulance response times in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [133183]
§ Angela SmithOne of my Priorities for Action in 2003–04 is that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service should by 31 March 2004 have an Accident and Emergency ambulance at the scene of 50 per cent. of 999 calls in 8 minutes, and at the scene of 95 per cent. of 999 calls in 18 minutes in the Eastern Board area, 21 minutes in the Northern, Southern and Western Board areas.
I have already made capital funding available to the Ambulance Service to replace and add to its vehicle fleet, and revenue funding to recruit and train the necessary additional staff, to enable these targets to be met.
In addition in February this year it was announced that some 29 million would be available over the next five years from the Strategic Investment Programme to continue to take forward the development of a modern ambulance service which can respond quickly to emergency situations and provide vital clinical care to patients.