MPs to examine teething problems with Government’s new emergency alerts system
The use of smartphone emergency alerts will be examined by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in a one-off session on the Government’s new public warning system.
Meeting details
In a nationwide test in April, the siren-like alert, designed to allow the Government and emergency services to send urgent messages to all UK smartphones about life-threatening risks, failed to reach 7% of those intended. MPs will investigate the technical issues faced and how the Cabinet Office plans to resolve them.
With very little detail published by the Cabinet Office on the process for issuing alerts, MPs will also likely press for more information on the types of incidents that could trigger an alert and how officials decide when to issue one.
Cabinet Office (COBR Unit) Director Roger Hargreaves will face questions on the alert system. On a separate panel, the Committee will also hear evidence from Lord Harris of Haringey, Chair of the National Preparedness Commission – a non-governmental body whose aim is to improve national resilience to major incidents and crises – on the necessity and effectiveness of the system.