Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Cabinet Office plans 2025 measures to support vulnerable groups, acknowledging long way to go.
Conclusion
The Cabinet Office has committed to implementing several measures by 2025 to better support vulnerable groups. One of these is developing a measurement of socio- economic resilience, including how risks impact across communities and vulnerable groups to guide and inform decision making on risk and resilience. Another measure is offering better guidance to local resilience forums and local partners in England, created with local responders, the voluntary sector and communities to support them working with vulnerable groups. In addition, by 2025, the Cabinet Office will conduct an annual survey of public perceptions of risk, resilience and preparedness.30 It noted there is guidance for identifying people who are vulnerable in a crisis, so that local action plans can identify those groups of people in an emergency. It assured us that careful consideration was being given to all the different dimensions of society, how it engages with them effectively, directly or through organisations that can represent them, and how it can have conversations about risk and people’s roles. However, it noted that although conversations had started there is a long of way to go.31
Government Response Summary
The government deferred responding to the conclusion, stating that a review of national resilience will be overseen by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and a Treasury Minute will be published after the review concludes.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
In his oral statement to Parliament on 19th July 2024 responding to the COVID-19 Inquiry Module One report, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that he would oversee a review of national resilience. A Treasury Minute will be published once this review has concluded. The Cabinet Office will write to the new Committee in the meantime.