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Interim Report - November 2001

Summary of Recommendations

• Central Government should dedicate resources to assist the NSC take forward the issues outlined in this report.

• That the four work themes agreed with the Cabinet Office are fully supported by all member agencies and organisations of the NSC.

• The review of national emergency planning arrangements being undertaken by the Cabinet Office examines the need to clarify the statutory responsibilities in respect of public warning.

• That Government takes a more positive and proactive role in the development of public warning arrangements.

• The Cabinet Office is made responsible for the overall co-ordination of public warning arrangements and initiatives.

• The Government develop an urgent plan to educate the public to accept and follow warning messages.

• The "Go In, Stay In, Tune In" message within the NSC's video be developed into additional educational material and given even wider promotion throughout the country.

• Resources are made available to develop a website for the Public Education Group.

• The media are encouraged by Government to promote shelter and other essential and related public information.

• Pilot studies are established to trial the:
  • Automated Information Resourcing System (A.I.R.E.S.)
  • Community Notification System...utilising telephony
  • Community Notification System...Utilising electricity powerline distribution systems

• That further discussions take place with the telephone companies regarding the development of both a PWIT solution and the use of the cell-wide broadcasts on mobile telephones.

• The NSC gives further consideration to the potential use of RDS technology and the value of a dedicated emergency frequency.

• Consideration is given by the NSC and the Cabinet Office to discussing the potential uses of digital TV with the national Digital Television Group.

• The Cabinet Office should address the role of lead government departments in widespread incidents.

• The guidance currently being developed by the Cabinet Office, NSC and the BBC is given wide circulation both to emergency planning agencies and the media as a way of spreading good practice.

• A national database of locations where sirens are used to warn the public be developed. This should include information on the type of siren, warning tone and instructions given to the public on what to do when the siren sounds.

• The NSC utilises the information in the database to decide whether there is a case for establishing a UK standard for siren systems.

• The need for external Public Address Systems at large out of town shopping complexes form part of the continued work programme of the NSC