UK Government
Background
In some instances the scale or complexity of an emergency is such that some degree of central government support or co-ordination becomes necessary. Central government will not duplicate the role of local responders who remain the basic building block of the response to an emergency.
This section outlines the arrangements in place at the UK level to provide this support and co-ordination in emergency response and recovery. The arrangements are described in detail in the document Central government arrangements for responding to an emergency: concept of operations [PDF, 26 pages, 376KB].
Lead Government Departments (LGDs)
Where the scale or complexity of an emergency is such that some degree of government co-ordination or support becomes necessary, a designated Lead Government Department (LGD) or, where appropriate, a devolved administration, will be responsible for the overall management of the government response.
A pre-designated list of LGDs is maintained by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) in the Cabinet Office.
Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR)
Where the nature of the emergency is such that it affects the business of a number of government departments, a collective response will be required, led by the LGD. The Government maintains dedicated crisis management facilities (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. Officials in COBR will identify options and propose advice on the issues on which Ministers will need to focus.
Once activated, relevant departments and agencies will immediately send representatives to COBR. COBR will remain open until the emergency has passed. The COBR Secretariat in consultation with the LGD will decide on the timings of meetings, and whether and, if so, which departments need to be represented in COBR 24/7.
Government Liaison Team (GLT)
Where a Strategic Co-ordinating Group has been established and a UK central government response is required, a Government Liaison Team (GLT) will be despatched immediately at the onset of an emergency. The GLT is a multidisciplinary team led by the Government Liaison Officer (GLO). The GLO will be the main liaison channel between COBR and the scene.
Public Information
Any emergency on a scale requiring a co-ordinated UK central government response will need national direction of public information from the outset. UK central government will be responsible for the national communications strategy for responding to the emergency, the development of which will be co-ordinated with the lead local responder. The News Co-ordination Centre (NCC) will be activated to pull together the national media communications effort. In the most demanding circumstances, a government Media Centre will be established. All media enquiries and requests for ministerial appearances will be directed to the NCC, which will also generate a rolling brief for ministers and a media summary for meetings in COBR.
Key Documents
You should refer to:
- Central Government Emergency Response Training Course (CGERT)/ National Strategic Level - Useful Reading - The Government Emergency Response Training Course aims to equip people with the knowledge, skills and awareness necessary for their role in crisis management at the national strategic level. It is also designed to familiarise those in departmental emergency organisations, in Devolved and Regional Government, and in Strategic Co-ordination Groups with the Central Response structure and processes.
The Directed Reading Package for Module 2 of the course is also very useful for those not planning to attend the course who wish to know more about central government response to emergencies.
Further details of this course are available from the Emergency Planning College[External website]
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