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Last updated: 17 March 2010
A key function of the Cabinet Office is to co-ordinate the Government’s response to a major emergency for example, swine flu or flooding. Within the Cabinet Office, the Civil Contingencies Secretariat provides the central focus for cross Government co-ordination in responding to major civil emergencies.
The Government maintains dedicated crisis management facilities, often referred to as COBR, and supporting arrangements which are only activated in the event of a major national emergency. The Prime Minister, Home Secretary or another senior Minister will normally chair key meetings involving Ministers and officials from relevant departments, as appropriate. Meetings will cover all the strategic aspects of the response and recovery effort.
The situation cell works as a key part of the Cabinet Office emergency response within COBR acting as the liaison point with Government Departments to ensure that there is a single, immediate and up to date overview of the current situation. It is responsible for establishing the briefing routine, and ensuring the effective flow of information between departments. A key task for the situation cell is to produce a brief which draws together and pulls out the key information. This is used to provide an agreed common picture of the latest situation and the wider impacts and enables the situation cell staff to provide Ministers and senior officials with briefing on the response, including the latest position, the prognosis for the future, the direct and indirect consequences and any emerging issues. Staff in the Situation Cell also ensure that all meetings are minuted and that actions are followed up.
08:00 - Buy a coffee, get to my desk and log on to my computer. I start by running through overnight reports that have come in from Government Departments and regional offices. I catch up with colleagues who provide a handover. They brief me on key developments and any outstanding actions to deal with.
08:30 - I draft an update report on the current situation and impacts based on those overnight reports and chase any outstanding situation reports or responses from Government Departments.
09:30 - Finalise and get papers approved for distribution prior to COBR committee meeting. I work with colleagues to ensure the Civil Contingencies Committee Chair’s brief and any supporting papers are prepared and distributed in time for the meeting.
10:30 - The COBR meeting to co-ordinate the national response starts. A couple of us sit in on the meeting to ensure nothing is missed in the minutes. The meeting runs through the current situation, impacts and response, strategic decisions and identifies priority actions for Departments.
11:45 - I attend a post-COBR CCS meeting with the duty director and all relevant colleagues where priorities are reviewed and immediate taskings and timelines are allocated to staff.
12:30 - Grab a bite to eat in rotation with other colleagues on shift. The afternoon is spent on time critical tasks, liaising with departments to co-ordinate policy advice to strategic decision makers. I work closely with the situation cell lead to gather information, data and maps relating to the current and potential impacts of the crisis.
14:00 - Pass a call from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills regarding a request to reduce regulation driver worker hours onto policy colleagues who will work alongside Department for Transport to respond to the request.
14:30 - Produce updated map to show latest figures and geographically affected areas.
15:00 - Collate and update regional and Government Departments situation reports. Clarify my understanding on a couple of points with a colleague. Update the national report on the current situation with latest inputs and send it out to partners.
16:30 - Meeting to discuss latest situation and emerging developments looking forward over the next 24-36 hours.
17:30 - Prepare handover and brief my colleague who will take over before heading home.
General enquiries: Cabinet Office, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2WH.
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