Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to (a) implement section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006 and (b) allow the use of blue lights and sirens for vehicles providing an emergency medical response which are not commissioned by the NHS.

The Government plan to lay regulations in Parliament in 2017 which will prescribe vehicle purposes exempt from speed limits in emergency type situations and the training provisions which drivers must complete before using such a vehicle as required under secion19 of the Road Safety Act 2006.

Ambulances are permitted to use blue lights and sirens. However, their use on other vehicles is restricted to those owned, leased or hired by the NHS Ambulance Service operating when directed in response to a 999 emergency call. No changes to these provisions are planned.