36 members of the public were injured as a result of our operations compared with 28 during 2006/07. This includes a member of the public who died as a result of a road traffic accident in the US.

In 2007/08, we handled some 3.5 million emergency calls on the UK national gas emergency number on behalf of our networks, other networks and other gas transporters.

In both the UK and US, we again exceeded our regulatory agreed targets on safety-related standards. In the UK, more than 98% of ‘uncontrolled’ gas escapes (where the gas leak cannot be controlled by turning the gas supply off at the meter) were attended within one hour, and more than 99% of ‘controlled’ gas escapes (where the gas leak can be controlled at the meter) were attended within two hours.

In New York, we responded to 83% of gas escapes within 30 minutes (75% target), 96% within 45 minutes (target of 90%), and 99% within 60 minutes (target of 95%). In Rhode Island, we responded to 95% within 30 minutes (target of 91%), and 97% within 45 minutes (target of 93%).