Local Lib Dem aims to save lives

12.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 13th Jul 2008

Old Bexley & Sidcup Liberal Democrat Parliamentary hopeful Duncan Borrowman is backing MP Adrian Sanders' Parliamentary campaign to introduce a 999 text service.

The Liberal Democrat MP has tabled a motion in Parliament to raise the issue of people unable to speak when in danger, but able to use their phone to send a text message to the emergency services.

Duncan Borrowman said:

"Many people are unable to talk when they need to call an emergency service. People with respiratory conditions, hearing impairments or other speech debilitating conditions may not be able to use the phone, but could text for help.

"There are also people in dangerous or threatening situations where they cannot speak out but could text for assistance.

"Lives could be saved if such a facility could be arranged which is why I am backing this campaign calling on the Government to encourage the mobile phone industry to come up with a text message 999 service".

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Text of Early Day Motion 1964

That this House notes that there is no facility to allow people to use text messages to contact blue light emergency services and believes that such a service could assist people needing to contact the emergency services when unable to speak and calls on Her Majesty's Government to encourage the mobile phone industry to come up with a text message '999' number through which blue light emergency services can be contacted.