Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for his statement that pandemic influenza plans are in place in most key sectors, as stated in paragraph 4.11.2 of his Department's National Framework for responding to an influenza pandemic.
Answer
All Government Departments are directly or indirectly involved in preparing for an influenza pandemic and play an active role in informing and supporting contingency planning in their areas of responsibility, including public and private sector organisations. Departments work closely with these sectors to promote business continuity management and facilitate robust and resilient planning to deal with a wide range of emergencies, including an influenza pandemic. To facilitate sectoral planning central Government Departments have issued guidance specific to pandemic planning and regularly meet with stakeholders to update them on the emerging situation and to provide advice.The evidence that supports the statement that pandemic influenza plans are in place in most key sectors, as stated in paragraph 4.11.2, includes:"The National Capabilities Survey (NCS). The confidential survey goes out to organisations providing essential services; as well as local emergency responders, regional government offices and central Government Departments. This includes the private sector. The results of the last NCS survey in 2006, showed that, in the main, the essential services had well established business continuity plans, which were designed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from, a whole range of risks including an influenza pandemic. The NCS 2008 will give us a more detailed picture, by evaluating recent progress and exploring these issues in greater depth;""Exercise Winter Willow—Over 5,000 people from government, industry and the voluntary sector participated in Exercise Winter Willow, with a common aim to review and validate our preparations and plans for the major challenges that an influenza pandemic would bring. This was supported by a number of sector specific exercises; and""Stakeholder engagement—The Cabinet Office and other Government Departments meet regularly with representatives from public and private sector bodies (through the business forum and other ad hoc meetings) to review the development of plans and to disseminate good practice."