UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Module 1 report: Scottish Government response

2. Cabinet Office Leadership

Recommendation Two – Cabinet office leadership for whole-system civil emergencies in the UK

Chair’s recommendation:

The UK Government should:

• Abolish the lead government department model for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience; and
• Require the Cabinet Office to lead on preparing for and building resilience to whole-system civil emergencies across the UK Government departments, including monitoring the preparedness and resilience of other departments, supporting departments to correct problems, and escalating issues to the UK Cabinet-level ministerial committee and group of senior officials in Recommendation 1.

Scottish Government response:

This recommendation is directed at the UK Government to consider and implement and concerns the management of emergencies by the UK Government. The Scottish Government has not adopted the lead government department model.

In Scotland, government and categorised responders subscribe to the established emergency planning principle of subsidiarity, whereby decisions are taken at the lowest appropriate level relevant to the event or emergency, while coordination occurs at the highest necessary level.

We value the existing good working relationships with lead government departments, the UK Government and our devolved government counterparts.

Any change in approach considered by the UK Government in response to this recommendation would need to take into account devolved responsibilities for managing certain emergencies, and their impacts. The Scottish Government should be consulted on, and remain informed of, any proposed changes to existing structures.