The Cabinet Office and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have developed a Risk Vulnerability Tool for departments to visualise where vulnerable groups of people are located within the UK.
The development is one of a number to emerge from the Government’s response to the Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report, which examines national resilience and preparedness prior to the pandemic.
The tool creates a map of the UK for different risks, showing where vulnerable groups might be disproportionately impacted.
It identifies them by data including age, disability and whether they are receiving care, and makes it possible to share the results between departments and the devolved governments.
The Cabinet Office said this will improve the understanding of where to find disproportionately impacted groups ahead of and during crises, and enable the local targeting of support where it is needed.
Response exercise
Other measures include a plan for a major national response exercise to test the country’s capability to deal with another pandemic. It will involve all government departments, local resilience forums and devolved governments, and take place on different days over months in the autumn.
This is accompanied by a plan to train over 4,000 people in resilience and emergency roles for a range of crises every year through the UK Resilience Academy. This will be based on revised National Occupational Standards.
In addition, the Government will carry out a national test of the Emergency Alert System later this year to ensure it is functioning correctly. This will be the fifth test since it was launched in 2013.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said: “We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic as we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again. But we will plan in a way that recognises the next crisis may not be the same as the last.
”We agree with the Inquiry that more needs to be done and are announcing measures to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for future pandemics.
“These changes will improve our resilience and preparedness and help to safeguard our citizens.”
