To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of the new central computer at the London ambulance service; to whom the contract was let; and what is its expected period of operation.

A contract was let in 1987 with International Aeradio Ltd. to provide a computer-aided despatch system, in the sum of £3,293,620. The date for operation was scheduled for January 1991, but this is currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what load testing has been undertaken on the London ambulance service central control system; when this was done; and if he will publish the results.

Load tests were undertaken on the central control system on 26 June and 13 September 1990. The results did not meet the standards set down in the user specification in either test. We do not intend to publish the results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of patients who have been regraded from chair to walking by the London ambulance service in the months of April, May, June, July, August and September.

No patients have been reclassified from chair to walking. The London ambulance service accepts the classification given by the ordering authority unless the crew finds that a patient requires further assistance and needs to be regraded from walking to chair case. The reverse situation is never applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total number of non-urgent patients whose transport has been cancelled by the London ambulance service per week in June, July, August and September.

Data are not collected in the form requested but monthly figures for the non-emergency service are available as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of the central ambulance control of the London ambulance service for each year since 1989 in constant terms.

The available figures are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total number of non-emergency patients carried by the London ambulance service in (a) emergency vehicles, (b) taxis, (c) non-emergency ambulances and (d) the hospital car service for the months of April, May, June, July, August and September.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what involvement the National Audit Office has had in the installation and funding of the London ambulance service central control computer.

The National Audit Office has had no involvement in the installation and funding of the London ambulance service central control computer.