UK Resilience
Last updated: 28 October 2008
Following any emergency, it is likely there will be a desire for VIPs to visit the scene and to provide support to the affected community. Such visits may include members of the Royal Family, Ministers and MPs, faith leaders, other dignitaries or celebrities. Visits often take place during and immediately after the response phase, but may also be followed up in the recovery phase to provide continued support to affected communities and to observe progress on recovery.
The benefits of such visits include raising and maintaining awareness of the emergency, reinforcing messages of thanks, providing visible support to the community, helping to ‘fast-track’ some aspects of recovery, and giving positive media messages around the return to ‘normality’.
Key to the success of any such visit is community engagement with the planning of the visit and the decisions around the programme. For example, Faith Leaders may provide significant spiritual support to affected communities and such visits can also provide an important focus for reconciliation and developing community cohesion. However, it is important to assess the impact of any visit on the community to ensure it does add value.
Therefore, early and ongoing communication between local and regional partners, the affected community and the potential visitor is vital to ensure the benefits are maximised. Elected members can play a key role in this decision making process, reflecting the needs of their communities.
There is limited guidance available on the nature of visits and who are the most appropriate individuals to engage in the longer term recovery. Some guidance on the role of the Government Office in organising visits is described in Emergency Response and Recovery.
The choice of visitor can be by local determination, although Ministers and senior officials may also approach the communities after an emergency. Government Offices can provide advice and, importantly, a link to Government Departments to ensure assistance in development of programmes for visits and assistance in maximising their benefit.
The Welsh Assembly Government will need to be involved in any visits to Wales by the Royal family, UK Ministers or foreign dignitaries.
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Local partners, including the voluntary and faith communities, will wish to consider the appropriate visitors/support which may best focus the needs of the community and raise and maintain the necessary profile of the aftermath of the emergency. As the recovery proceeds, then the focus of such visits may change, from sympathy and gratitude to the responders, to more focus on the recovery and return to ‘normality’ for the community.
Both the community and the VIP will wish to maximise the benefit of any visit and ensure that a visit is neither divisive not overly onerous on the community. In considering any visit, especially where there may be an effect on community cohesion, it is important to assess the impact of the visit and to advise whether or not it would add value.
Where visits are by Ministers, the Lead Government Department would be responsible for arranging the visit, with local organisation done through the Government Office. Press and media liaison is organised via the COI News Distribution Service.
Royal visits are co-ordinated by the Royal Household through the Lord Lieutenant's Office (there is one per LRF area). Details of the role and function of the Lord Lieutenant.
For Royal visits, press and media liaison is dealt with by the relevant Royal Household.
In some circumstances, it is possible that a foreign VIP (ie. Head of State / Prime Minister / Foreign Minister) may wish to visit the UK after an emergency, particularly if foreign nationals were affected. In this instance, the Visit Team in the Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would be able to offer any logistical assistance required to the VIP. This could involve managing the visit from arrival to departure, any hospitality and transport. The desk in the FCO would set up any necessary calls with officials and would expect to be in contact with the Foreign Mission in London about arrangements.
For Ministerial visits, organisation of the visit on the ground will be undertaken by the Government Office in partnership with the Minister's Private Office, and with local organisations, to determine an appropriate programme for the visit.
Any visit by a UK Minister to a devolved region is carried out in consultation with the Devolved Administration concerned.
Visits of UK Ministers and members of the Royal family to Wales need to be arranged in conjunction with the Public Administration Unit and Press Office of the Welsh Assembly Government. Visits by Welsh Ministers will be arranged between policy Departments, Ministerial Offices and the relevant responder agencies.
Royal visits are co-ordinated by the Royal Household through the Lord Lieutenant's Office
For Ministerial visits, organisation is undertaken by the Scottish Executive
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Costs of Ministerial and associated visits are covered by the relevant Government Department.
Security costs for Ministerial and Royal visits fall to the police.
For visits by foreign VIPs, the Protocol Directorate (FCO) would probably meet the costs for a Guest of Government status, under special circumstances and as a one off, but this agreement would depend on the VIP's status and other criteria at the time.
Security costs for VIP visits to Wales fall to the Police.
Scotland – funding is the same as England.
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