Emergency alert system test update as government admits 'issues'

The government has issued an update on the emergency alert system for mobile phones across the UK following its first nationwide test.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden confirmed that the test was a "one-off" and no re-run would take place after Three mobile customers reported they didn't receive the alert on April 23. Despite this, Mr Dowden said that the problems with the system have been addressed and fixed to provide 'fuller coverage'.

Speaking at a session of questions to Cabinet Office ministers, Mr Dowden told the Commons: “Last week’s UK-wide emergency alert was the largest simultaneous public message in British history. We reached 93% of eligible phones in the country within three minutes of the test alert being sent from Cobra.

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“The system is now fully operable in the event of a real emergency and is a vital tool in our toolkit to keep people safe.”

Conservative MP Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) asked: “What is going to happen with the 7% that weren’t picked up in his answer? Will there be a follow-up further test?

“If so, he said it is fully functional, can I ask what kind of things will it be used for in the future? Will it be regional, national, or local emergencies?”

Mr Dowden replied: “The whole point of having a test is to expose where there are challenges.

“Subsequent to the test, I met with the chief executive of Three where the principal challenges lay, and I am confident that they are taking actions, and pretty much have taken the actions to ensure that we will get that fuller coverage which is required.”

He added: “It was a one-off test, I don’t see for the foreseeable future any need for a further such test. We will target it as