Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the NHS has sufficient resources to manage a UK-wide pandemic.

The Government, the National Health Service and Public Health England are extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections. As with other cold and flu viruses, they are using tried and tested procedures to prevent further spread. We continue to work closely with the World Health Organization and the international community to ensure we are ready for all eventualities.

The NHS has expert teams in every ambulance service and a number of specialist hospital units with highly trained staff and equipment ready to receive and care for patients with any highly infectious disease.

We are working through our clear action plan. Like all our decisions, the plan is based on the expertise of world leading scientists. We will do the right thing at the right time, based on the best available science.