Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department have taken to prepare for a pandemic in each of the last 10 years.

The UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011 provides a United Kingdom-wide strategic approach to planning for and responding to the demands of an influenza pandemic. The approach set out in this strategy is multi-faceted and evidence-based. It is referred to as ‘defence in depth’.

Over the last 10 years we have worked to develop, or maintain, all elements of this defence strategy:

- surveillance and modelling systems;

- arrangements to secure access to an influenza vaccine (when available);

- supplies of clinical countermeasures such as antiviral medicines to treat influenza and personal protective equipment for front-line healthcare workers; and

- tried and tested surge plans and mechanisms to reduce pressures on primary care services.