Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of switching from ISDN to SIP lines on the resilience of emergency service networks.
The Emergency Services are operationally independent and have responsibility for the operation of emergency service control rooms that process emergency calls, as overseen by local Chief Officer and relevant Lead Government Departments, including Departments in the Devolved Administrations as applicable.
The digital transition is industry led and the emergency services are being supported by their respective communications providers. DSIT is working closely with the lead government departments for the emergency services to provide advice on areas of risk which has prompted actions from the emergency services to increase resilience measures.
DSIT does not hold any data on the number of silent calls received by the emergency services.