Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he first became aware of the findings of Exercise Cygnus carried out in 2016; and what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations arising from that exercise.

Pandemic Influenza is identified as the most significant natural hazard risk on the Government’s National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was informed of this and the work underway to develop, and manage, United Kingdom pandemic influenza preparedness following Exercise Cygnus upon assuming office in 2018.

Working across Government and with stakeholders, the lessons from Exercise Cygnus have informed our preparedness, such as development of draft legislation support to the response to a future influenza pandemic and strengthening health sector plans to surge and flex beyond normal operations.