Influenza Pandemic (S&T Report)

My Lords, we are grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Broers, and the Science and Technology Committee for its report on pandemic influenza and for the opportunity for this timely debate on an important subject, which seems day by day in the media to be getting an increasing profile. Standing here with a mere O-level in science, I defer to the committee’s expert knowledge of scientific and immunological aspects of the pandemic. The particular aspect that I wish to pick up is addressed in the opening abstract. It says:"““More work should be done on translating the over-arching Contingency Plan into detailed plans covering health and emergency services, local government and business””," and so on. The particular aspect that concerns me and others in all the faith communities is the need to ensure that all essential services are kept going when an outbreak occurs. That includes the ministries of faith communities to the general public. I speak not only as a bishop in the Church of England but also as chairman of the Churches Main Committee, an ecumenical body that represents some 40 Christian communities and a large part of the Jewish community in this country and deals with government on a whole range of issues that directly affect ministers of religion and places of worship. I have already been in correspondence with Ministers in the Department of Health on the importance of recognising the part played by clergy of all traditions in the life of their communities—and even more so in the event of an emergency such as pandemic influenza. As noble Lords will be aware, ministers of religion have a distinctive role in national emergencies. Their work in providing pastoral care, in counselling those who are traumatised, ministering to the sick and dying, the conduct of funerals and bereavement follow-up becomes of very special significance. Of particular importance is that ministers’ work needs particular training, planning and co-ordination. We have major incident plans at the moment, but they are not slickly transferable if there is a national pandemic; it is different responding to train or plane crashes, motorway pile-ups or bomb incidents, such as those that we had last year. There are good plans in place for that, but we cannot slickly transfer them and other training needs to be done. Of course, in terms of priorities for vaccination, the protection of healthcare workers must come first; but the Department of Health recognises that high on the list must come the prevention of illnesses for all key workers—those who keep the essential services running. I urge that ministers of religion of all faiths and denominations should be identified as key workers for that purpose. I am also aware that faith communities have been identified as one of the important groups that should be co-opted to the National Influenza Pandemic Committee. In response to a request made last autumn, I have indicated my willingness to serve on that committee in my capacity as chairman of the Churches Main Committee, as and when needed. It may seem to some noble Lords premature to speak of such categories at the moment—that is, about pastoral and spiritual care. But I know that the Government recognise, as we all do, the importance of general contingency planning. As the noble Lord, Lord Broers, said in his opening speech, we need leadership from the top; if we have that now, it will give greater assurance to the general public and prevent public hysteria. The report itself presses for that greater urgency, saying:"““The Government should provide stronger cross-departmental leadership. A pandemic would affect every part of society and every branch of Government, not just health services. There should be a Cabinet-level Minister for Contingency Planning, within whose portfolio pandemic preparedness would fall””." I echo support from earlier speakers on that, and know that there are many in the general public who support the establishment of such a post. I should be glad if, in reply to the debate, the Minister could give us some indication of how the planning is being co-ordinated, and the part being played by the National Influenza Pandemic Committee. Would the Minister give a clear commitment to the appropriate practical involvement of faith communities in the contingency planning process?