Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what maintenance and licensing fees are paid to mobile network operators and technical providers for the infrastructure powering the Emergency Alert system.

The Cabinet Office is committed to delivering value for money to the public. There is no additional or marginal cost of issuing a nationwide Emergency Alert; the most recent activation of the Emergency Alert capability on 14 August was issued at no cost to the taxpayer.

The government contracts with Mobile Network Operators to enable provision of the capability 24/7 nationwide, allowing for individual Alerts to be broadcast at no cost.

The Emergency Alerts system remains ready for activation at short notice around the clock, in response to a range of emergencies.