ALARM SERVICES FOR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Early day motion 1680, tabled 15 September 2003 by Kerry Pollard (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes that many elderly and vulnerable people living alone fear that they might be taken ill or have an accident and be unable to summon help; further notes that a number of organisations offer an alarm service to allow emergency services to be summoned; regrets that these services are not always reliable; further regrets the unfortunate death of Mr Basil Alexander following the failure to respond to his home panic alarm by a company called Aid Call; notes that Aid Call does not sign up to the existing voluntary regulatory system; and calls on the Government to introduce a compulsory regulatory system so that vulnerable people and their relatives can be sure that every time a panic alarm is activated, a response will be forthcoming.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Liberal Democrat 5, DUP 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.