Keep services local - Farron

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Jul 2006

Tim Farron has spoken out in support of keeping public services local. Speaking in a parliamentary debate on local services, he warned that merging local ambulance trusts had threatened emergency patient care.

Mr Farron raised the case of Langdale First Responders, who have not been alerted to important call-outs recently due to poor communications from the new regional ambulance trust.

Speaking after the debate, the local MP said: "Centralisation and automation of ambulance trust services has not so far led to greater efficiency or faster responses.

"On the contrary, removing the human element has led to calls to First Responders being misdirected or not made at all. This has put lives at risk.

"I welcome this debate which was a chance to make the case for local services. This means local schools, a local hospital, local police services and local post offices."