Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the National Exercising Programme’s next Tier 1 exercise test to take place.

The National Exercise Programme (NEP) provides direction and establishes cross-cutting activity to stress test capabilities, plans, protocols and procedures to strengthen our resilience in order to better prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from significant risks facing the UK.

The NEP sets out a timetable of exercises (2024-2028), including at least one annual Tier 1 exercise with Ministerial involvement to be delivered each year.

The Department of Health and Social Care will conduct a major Tier 1 exercise as the Lead Government Department, testing our response to a major pandemic. Planning for the exercise is underway and timelines are to be confirmed.