Recommendation 22

We asked the witnesses why there is still no Chief Risk Officer or Advisor, like the National Security Adviser, to provide a more cohesive system-wide view and leadership. The Cabinet Office told us that the Head of Resilience fulfils that role, by looking at all the resilience risks across Government and ensuring that there is a robust system in place to be prepared for them. It explained that the role reports into the Deputy National Security Advisor and has the support of the Deputy Prime Minister who chairs the National Security Council on Resilience.39 HM Treasury told us that arguments for an overall Chief Risk 34 C&AG’s Report, para 12 35 Q 43 36 Qq 3, 4, 24 37 Qq 38, 139 38 Committee of Public Accounts, Government preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk; 46th report of Session 2021–22, HC 952, March 2022, conclusions and recommendations 1 39 Qq 38, 44, 46, 47 16 Government resilience: extreme weather Advisor reflect a desire for more challenge of government and the arguments against the role reflect the scale of the subject matter and the concern that others with responsibilities for risks may feel less responsible for those risks. HM Treasury noted that it is working to understand what that role could consist of and what contributions different parts of government are currently making to the management of risk.40 Roles and responsibilities