Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to launch the new Emergency Alerts capability announced in August 2022 and outlined in the National Resilience Framework in December 2022; and whether his Department is taking steps to put in place a public information strategy on the introduction of emergency alerts.

The Emergency Alerts capability is due to be trialled nationally this year with an initial focus on flooding and extreme weather-related events. Subject to the outcome of an evaluation, its scope will likely be widened to other use cases.

Emergency Alerts offer the ability to rapidly disseminate life-saving information to the public via their mobile phones. It is rapid, targeted to those in an affected area, and has no data or privacy implications (no information on a recipient or their location is gathered or shared).

The launch will be preceded by a public information campaign culminating in a UK-wide test message - a nationwide simultaneous alert sent to all compatible mobile phones across the United Kingdom. This approach has been found elsewhere to maximise awareness and understanding on how recipients should react on receiving alerts.