Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it the policy of the Government to publish all recommendations resulting from Exercise Cygnus in 2016 other than those which directly affect national security; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not routinely publish reports on exercises. This is to allow Ministers, officials and emergency planners to develop policies and plans while ensuring that the full, candid and proper deliberation of lessons identified is not influenced or impacted by the possibility of public exposure.
Working across Government and with stakeholders, the lessons from Exercise Cygnus have informed development of preparedness plans for a future influenza pandemic. Learning the lessons from preparedness exercises, as well as other sources of expertise has ensured that the United Kingdom remains well prepared for infectious disease outbreaks.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the recommendations of Exercise Cygnus in 2016; and if he will publish those recommendations.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not routinely publish reports on exercises.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) public and (b) private sector organisations contributed to Exercise Cygnus; and how many of those organisations have been consulted following that exercise on its the findings and recommendations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Exercise Cygnus was a national level pandemic influenza exercise involving Ministers and officials from the Department of Health and Social Care; other Government departments; devolved administrations; NHS England; Public Health England and local agencies.
The lessons identified from the exercise have been considered across Government and shared with participants and local pandemic preparedness planners. Lessons identified from previous influenza pandemics, and exercises such as Exercise Cygnus, continue to inform the development of pandemic preparedness plans.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of the participants of Exercise Cygnus.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Exercise Cygnus was a national level pandemic influenza exercise involving Ministers and officials from the Department; other Government departments; devolved administrations; NHS England; Public Health England and local agencies.
The lessons identified from the exercise have been considered across Government and shared with participants and local pandemic preparedness planners. Lessons identified from previous influenza pandemics, and exercises such as Exercise Cygnus, continue to inform the development of pandemic preparedness plans.