The Government has launched a new consultation alongside a Call for Evidence to help develop a National Resilience Strategy.
The Cabinet Office has issued a Call for Evidence seeking public views to inform the development of a new National Resilience Strategy that will outline “an ambitious new vision” for the UK’s national resilience.
It seeks to understand current perceptions of risk and resilience, gather evidence on where improvements could be made, and “gauge the UK’s appetite for change.”
Introducing the National Reilience Strategy consultation paper, the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP Paymaster General said:
“We need to be better able to deal with ‘whole-system’ emergencies, and we need to foster a whole of society approach to both preparedness and response. All parts of the UK must work together, with better cooperation between all levels of government. We must work with businesses and industry to strengthen the resilience of our systems and infrastructure. We must energise and empower UK citizens and communities who can make a real contribution to the national resilience effort. We must strengthen international collaboration to address shared global challenges.”
The Call for Evidence says:
“The Covid-19 pandemic and other recent crises have stretched governments around the world. This has demonstrated the importance of a resilient society with well developed plans and capabilities, along with flexible response structures that can adapt and respond to the unexpected.
“We know there will be more major challenges in the future. We need a National Resilience Strategy to help us prepare for these challenges.”
The Call for Evidence asks questions around six themes:
- Risk and Resilience: Strengthening our ability to manage an evolving risk landscape depends on improving our ability to both predict and adapt to identified and unexpected challenges.
- Responsibilities and Accountability: It is fundamentally important that all those involved in building resilience have a clear understanding of when, where and how to apply tools, processes and relationships effectively.
- Partnerships: Resilience is not solely a government or public sector responsibility. Other parts of society play an essential role in building our collective resilience.
- Community: A whole-of-society approach will be central to strengthening the UK’s resilience, with a revived effort to inform and empower all parts of society who can make a contribution.
- Investment: The challenge of where to place investment in the risk cycle is one that affects the public and private sectors alike. As government, individuals and businesses, we face choices around what, and how much, to invest.
- Resilience in an Interconnected World: UK resilience is closely entwined with the wider global context. Challenges and opportunities are frequently experienced on a global scale.
The Call for Evidence also includes specific questions on the Civil Contingencies Act which provides a legislative framework for emergency management and response in the UK. Evidence gathered will help to inform the scheduled review of the Act which is due to be completed by March 2022.
Deadline to submit responses to the consultation is 27 September 2021 – click here to access the consultation online.
Click here to download the Call for Evidence paper
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