Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the precautionary principle is adhered to in his Department's guidance and preparations for (a) a potential second wave of coronavirus and (b) potential future pandemics.

The Government takes the precautionary principle into account but recognises it must be flexible. In planning for a potential second wave and future pandemics, the Government is taking the principle into account, alongside the available evidence in order to balance the risks between taking action or taking none.

To prepare the National Health Service for winter, the Government is providing an additional £3 billion of funding. This includes funding to allow the NHS to maintain the Nightingale surge capacity and continue to use the extra hospital capacity available within the independent sector.

Effective local management of any outbreaks is the first line of protection against a second wave that might overwhelm the NHS. To support local authorities, we made £300 million available and they already have robust plans in place to respond to outbreaks.

NHS winter preparations include delivering a very significantly expanded seasonal flu vaccination programme for priority groups.