(2) how much has been spent on publicising the 101 programme since its introduction;
(3) how many calls were handled by the five local authorities participating in the 101 programme in 2006.
[holding answer 1 February 2007]: Evaluation and assessment of the introduction of the single non-emergency number, 101, in the five Wave 1 Police and Local Authority Partnership areas are currently ongoing. Plans for further programme development beyond Wave 1 Partnership areas have been deferred pending the outcome of this evaluation and assessment to be completed in autumn 2007.
The 101 service was introduced between May and September 2006 in the five Wave 1 Partnership areas involving 30 local authorities and five police forces covering approximately 10 per cent. of the population of England and Wales. £1.3 million was spent on publicising the new service locally across these areas and informing the public how it should be used.
Since this introduction until the end of December 2006, 101 call advisers have handled more than a quarter of a million (277,272) calls from the public in their local areas with high levels of customer satisfaction and positive feedback on the service received.