Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Third Report - Coronavirus: lessons learned to date
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 92
Published 12 October 2021
Government response
Government Response to the Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee joint report: Coronavirus: lessons learned to date · published 16 Jun 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
60
Conclusion
Rejected
The operation of COBR was not well-suited to the modern demands of a pandemic response.
Conclusion
The operation of COBR was not well-suited to the modern demands of a pandemic response. It is especially concerning that its culture of confidentiality was considered by some to be so unreliable that alternative meetings were arranged that could command …
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Government Response Summary
The government explicitly rejected the committee's assessment, disagreeing that COBR was ill-suited for pandemic response or that its confidentiality culture was unreliable. They defended COBR's role and ongoing review processes.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department of Health and Social Care
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61
Conclusion
Rejected
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat did not have adequate resources to maintain a substantial standing capability...
Conclusion
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat did not have adequate resources to maintain a substantial standing capability to survey the development of potential threats, and it had a limited reach into the range of Government departments required to respond to a pandemic. …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the observation that the Civil Contingencies Secretariat lacked adequate resources and reach. It states that a range of existing capabilities, including near-term horizon scanning, the Joint Intelligence Organisation, and the National Situation Centre, already identify and assess risks.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department of Health and Social Care
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65
Recommendation
Rejected
A standing capability should be established in Government, or reporting to it, to scan the...
Recommendation
A standing capability should be established in Government, or reporting to it, to scan the horizon for future threats, with adequate resource and counting on specialists with an independence from short-term political and administrative pressures.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to establish a new standing capability for horizon scanning, stating that a range of existing complementary capabilities already address this need, including the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, the Joint Intelligence Organisation, and the National Situation Centre.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department of Health and Social Care
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170
Conclusion
Rejected
In evidence to the Science and Technology Committee on 25 March 2020 Public Health England...
Conclusion
In evidence to the Science and Technology Committee on 25 March 2020 Public Health England claimed to have formally studied, but rejected, the South Korean approach.255 Despite repeated requests by the Committee no evidence of such an evaluation has ever …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation by agreeing it is important to learn from other countries and detailing how UKHSA will facilitate this. However, it explicitly rejects the committee's specific conclusion that a negligent omission occurred or that a culture of rejecting assistance was established regarding the South Korean approach.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department of Health and Social Care
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8
Recommendation
Rejected
A standing capability should be established in Government, or reporting to it, to scan the...
Recommendation
A standing capability should be established in Government, or reporting to it, to scan the horizon for future threats, with adequate resource and counting on specialists with an independence from short-term political and administrative pressures. (Paragraph 65) Coronavirus: lessons learned …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that a range of complementary standing capabilities already exist across various departments and organisations to identify and assess current and future risks.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Department of Health and Social Care
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