[Stuart]

In 2006 101 was made available in some areas as a non-emergency number for police and local authorities in several areas in England and Wales with complete coverage scheduled for 2008, however funding was pulled by the Home Office in 2007 causing some of the 101 lines to close.[8][9][10] However, some other numbers are sometimes classed as "emergency", particularly 0800 111 999 for gas leaks (0800 being a free call prefix), and 08 45 46 47 for NHS Direct (0845 being a local-rate prefix).

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergen..._number#Europe (relevant section quoted above), the government did start setting up a number for non-emergency calls, 101. But, they only got as far as trialling it in some areas and while they were planning to roll it out nationally by 2008, the home office cut funding and a lot of the trial areas closed.