Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will update the Civil Contingencies Act to reflect the changing nature of mass communication in a time of war.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 provides a legislative framework for emergency preparedness and civil protection in the UK. The Government keeps this legislation under review. The Cabinet Office has a legal obligation to review the CCA every five years and is currently undertaking a Post-Implementation Review of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, which will be presented to Parliament by March 2027.

The Act already places a legal duty on Category 1 local responders to maintain plans to warn and inform the public during emergencies. This locally-based approach is supported, as necessary, by any national messaging from the central government using a range of channels, including social and broadcast media, to support increased preparedness for emergencies.