Editing Civil Contingencies Secretariat

{{short description|British government  emergency planning organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = Civil Contingencies Secretariat
|logo            =
|logo_width      =
|logo_caption    =
|seal            =
|seal_width      = 150px
|seal_caption    =
|formed          = {{start date and age|2001|7}}
|date1           =
|date1_name      =
|date2           =
|date2_name      =
|preceding1      =
|preceding2      =
|dissolved       =
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    =
|headquarters    =
|employees       = 75<ref name="answer57940">{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-12-15/57940/ |title=Civil Contingencies Secretariat: Written question 57940 |date=21 December 2016 |access-date=13 August 2018 |publisher=parliament.uk |first=Ben |last=Gummer |author-link=Ben Gummer }}</ref>
|budget          = £10 million<ref name="answer57940"/>
|chief1_name     = Roger Hargreaves
|chief1_position = Director
|chief2_name     = 
|chief2_position = 
|parent_agency   = [[Cabinet Office]]
|child1_agency   =
|child2_agency   =
|website         = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/emergency-planning}}
|footnotes       =
}}

The '''Civil Contingencies Secretariat''' ('''CCS'''), created in July 2001 and disbanded in July 2022,<ref>https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/22185030/INQ000182612.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref> was the executive department of the British [[Cabinet Office]] responsible for [[civil defence|emergency planning]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].  The role of the secretariat was to ensure the United Kingdom's resilience against disruptive challenge, and to do this by working with others to anticipate, assess, prevent, prepare, respond and recover.  Until its creation in 2001, emergency planning in Britain was the responsibility of the [[Home Office]]. The CCS also supports the [[Civil Contingencies Committee]], also known as COBR (or popularly – but incorrectly – as COBRA).

==Formation==

In the aftermath of the [[Year 2000 problem|Y2K bug scare]], the [[Fuel protests in the United Kingdom#2000|fuel protests of 2000]], flooding in [[Autumn 2000 western Europe floods|autumn 2000]], and the [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|foot and mouth epidemic of 2001]] the UK government felt that the existing emergency management policies and structures were inadequate to deal with natural or man-made disasters, and formed the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in July 2001, located in the Cabinet Office.{{sfn|Cornish|2007|pp=10, 15}}{{sfn|Sylvester|2001}}{{sfn|Tesh|2012}} Soon after the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]] the remit of the CCS was expanded to include mitigating the consequences of a large scale terrorist attack.{{sfn|Cornish|2007|p=10}}

Until 2001 the [[Home Office]] carried out emergency preparedness planning through its [[Emergency Planning Division]], which in turn replaced the [[Home Defence and Emergency Services Division]]. From 1935 to 1971 a separate department, called the [[Civil Defence Department]] (in the early years the [[Air Raid Precautions in the United Kingdom|Air Raid Precautions Department]], [[Ministry of Home Security]]), existed.

==Remit and reporting==

In 2002 [[David Blunkett]], then [[Home Secretary]], stated, in a written reply to a [[parliamentary question]]: {{quote|text=The remit of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat is to make the United Kingdom more effective in planning for, dealing with, and learning lessons from emergencies and disasters.|author=David Blunkett|source={{sfn|Hansard 2002}}}}

He went on to state:
{{quote|text=The Secretariat services the Civil Contingencies Committee, which I chair and in addition as part of the Cabinet Office reports to my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister (Mr. Blair) through the Cabinet Secretary (Sir Richard Wilson).|author=David Blunkett|source={{sfn|Hansard 2002}}}}

The [[Civil Contingencies Committee]], often informally referred to as [[Cabinet Office Briefing Room|COBR]] from the name of the room used, is a forum for ministers and senior officials to discuss and manage serious (level 2) and catastrophic (level 3) emergencies.{{sfn|BBC News 2006}}{{sfn|UK Parliament 2011}}

In 2010, the secretariat launched an emergency communications service based on the [[Skynet (satellite)|Skynet]] military communication satellite system, called High Integrity Telecommunications System, for use by [[UK police]] and other emergency services, primarily at Strategic Command Centres and at major events and emergencies. It replaced the earlier [[Emergency Communications Network (UK)|Emergency Communications Network]].<ref name=hits-201009>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61209/hits_informationpack_v1.1_0.pdf |title=HITS Information Pack |website=Cabinet Office, Civil Contingencies Secretariat |date=September 2010 |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref><ref name=hits-2011>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61211/HITS_Brochure_Jan2011.pdf |title=High Integrity Telecommunications System |website=Cabinet Office |year=2011 |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

[[Serco]] operates the [[Emergency Planning College]] in [[Easingwold]], North Yorkshire under contract to the secretariat.<ref name=epc-about>{{cite web |url=https://www.epcresilience.com/who-we-are |title=About the EPC |website=Emergency Planning College |access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

==Structure==

The secretariat was led by a director and initially comprised five divisions dealing with:{{sfn|Select Committee on Defence 2002}}

*Assessment {{ndash}} assessing known risks and scanning for future potential risks
*Capability Management {{ndash}} working with departments facing potential disruption, and advising on how to prevent or manage crisis
*Communication and Learning {{ndash}} including the News Co-ordination Centre in the Cabinet Office and the [[Emergency Planning College]]
*National Resilience Framework {{ndash}} developing partnerships between governmental agencies, voluntary agencies, local communities and private sector groups
*Programme Co-ordination {{ndash}} providing secretariat support for the Civil Contingencies Committee

In 2012, the CCS still had five sections, with a slightly different emphasis:{{sfn|Barber|2012}}

*Capabilities
*Local Response Capabilities
*Emergency Planning College
*Horizon Scanning & Response
*Natural Hazards Team

== Reform and disbandment ==
Following the Covid pandemic, and as a result of the risks faced by the UK becoming more complex, interconnected and demanding, the Cabinet Office made changes in July 2022 to support how the government responds to emergencies and to improve the long-term resilience of the UK. The Civil Contingencies Secretariat was split into two separate resilience functions:<ref name="Inquiry">{{cite web |title=UK Covid Inquiry |url=https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/21173158/INQ000099517.pdf |access-date=22 March 2024 |date=31 January 2023}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>

* The COBR Unit, which will continue to lead the government's response to crisis, domestic and international, malicious and non-malicious<ref name="Inquiry"/>
* A Resilience Directorate, which will lead the government's efforts to bolster the UK's resilience. This unit is responsible for the government's work on national resilience, managing the resilience system, resilience frameworks and risk processes.<ref name="Inquiry"/>

==Directors of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat==
*[[Mike Granatt]], [[Order of the Bath|CB]] (2001{{ndash}}2002){{sfn|Sylvester|2001}}
*Susan Scholefield, [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]] (2002{{ndash}}2004){{sfn|BiP Contracts}}
*[[Bruce Mann (civil servant)|Bruce Mann]] (2004{{ndash}}2009){{sfn|Revill|2007}}
*[[Christina Scott]] (2009{{ndash}}2013){{sfn|Foreign & Commonwealth Office}}
*Campbell McCafferty (2013{{ndash}}2016){{sfn|NIHR}}
*Katharine Hammond (2016{{ndash}}2020) {{sfn|UKIESF 2016}}
*Roger Hargreaves (2020{{ndash}}2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Lords |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/1295/html/}}</ref>

==Documents issued==

The CCS has produced the following documents:
*'''Emergency Response and Recovery''' which provides non-statutory guidance to accompany the [[Civil Contingencies Act 2004]]. First published in November 2005, it was last updated in October 2013.{{sfn|Cornish|2007|pp=16}}{{sfn|gov.uk Publications}}

==See also==
* [[Civil Contingencies Committee]]
* [[CONOPS]]
* [[Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre]]
* [[Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure]]
* [[Defence and Overseas Secretariat]]
* [[Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat]]
* [[European Secretariat]]
* [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]], US counterpart
* [[Operation Yellowhammer]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

*{{cite report
 |title       = Domestic Security, Civil Contingencies and Resilience in the United Kingdom
 |url         = http://news.bipcontracts.com/cgi-bin/news/news.cgi?action=full_story_BIP&id=15987
 |first1      = Dr Paul
 |last1       = Cornish
 |publisher   = [[Chatham House]]
 |access-date  = 6 October 2016
 |date        = June 2007
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161009130818/http://news.bipcontracts.com/cgi-bin/news/news.cgi?action=full_story_BIP&id=15987
 |archive-date = 9 October 2016
 |url-status    = dead
}}

*{{cite news |first=Rachel |last=Sylvester 
| url           = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1333528/Blair-forms-emergency-unit-after-debacles.html
| title         = Blair forms emergency unit after debacles
| date          = 11 July 2001
| work          = Daily Telegraph
| access-date    = 6 October 2016
}}

*{{cite web
| title         = The making of a National Risk Register
| last          = Tesh
| first         = John
| url           = http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/the-making-of-a-national-risk-register
| website       = [[University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge Research]] 
| access-date    = 7 October 2016
| date          = 26 October 2012
}}

*{{Cite Hansard
| jurisdiction  = United Kingdom
| house         = House of Commons
| title         = Civil Contingency Secretariat
| url           = https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/2002/jun/21/civil-contingency-secretariat
| date          = 21 June 2002 
| speaker       = David Blunkett
| position      = Home Secretary
| ref           = {{sfnref|Hansard 2002}}
}}

*{{cite news
| title         = Cobra: The UK's emergencies team
| url           = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4663369.stm
| access-date    = 7 October 2016
| work     = BBC News
| date          = 6 April 2006
| ref           = {{sfnref|BBC News 2006}}
}}

*{{cite web
| title         = 3 Government structures
| url           = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmsctech/498/49806.htm|website=www.parliament.uk
| publisher     = UK Parliament
| access-date    = 7 October 2016
| date          = 2 March 2011
| ref           = {{sfnref|UK Parliament 2011}}
}}

*{{cite web
| title         = Memorandum from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (9 January 2002) 
| url           = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmdfence/518-i/2011602.htm
| publisher     = UK Parliament
| access-date    = 8 October 2016
| date          = 7 March 2002
| ref           = {{sfnref|Select Committee on Defence 2002}}
}}

*{{cite web
 |title        = Risk Assessment and UK Resilience
 |last         = Barber
 |first        = Mat
 |url          = https://www.the-eps.org/resources/download?id=Gs%2FyyrY%2By1VnfKbRjZhRqqmqONe4T01TAWLWW6ZQGLA%3D
 |at           = Civil Contingencies Secretariat Organogram
 |publisher    = Cabinet Office
 |access-date   = 7 October 2016
 |date         = 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161008205535/https://www.the-eps.org/resources/download?id=Gs%2FyyrY%2By1VnfKbRjZhRqqmqONe4T01TAWLWW6ZQGLA%3D
 |archive-date = 8 October 2016
 |url-status   = dead
}}

*{{cite web
 |title        = New Head of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat
 |url          = http://news.bipcontracts.com/cgi-bin/news/news.cgi?action=full_story_BIP&id=15987
 |publisher    = BiP Contracts
 |access-date   = 6 October 2016
 |date         = 5 November 2002
 |ref          = {{sfnref|BiP Contracts}}
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161009130818/http://news.bipcontracts.com/cgi-bin/news/news.cgi?action=full_story_BIP&id=15987
 |archive-date = 9 October 2016
 |url-status     = dead
}}

*{{cite news
| url           = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jul/29/weather.immigrationpolicy 
| title         = The mandarins planning how we would cope again 
| first         = Jo 
| last          = Revill
| date          = 29 July 2007 
| newspaper     = [[The Guardian]] 
| access-date    = 12 October 2015
}}

*{{cite press release
| author        = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
| title         = Change of Governor of Anguilla
| url           = https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-governor-of-anguilla
| publisher     = [[Foreign & Commonwealth Office]]
| date          = 23 October 2012
| access-date   = 6 October 2016
| ref           = {{sfnref|Foreign & Commonwealth Office}}
}}

*{{cite web
| title         = Independent Advisory Group: Biographies
| at            = Campbell McCafferty
| url           = http://epr.hpru.nihr.ac.uk/sites/default/files/advisory_group/Biographies%20for%20advisory%20group%20members.doc
| access-date    = 6 October 2016
| publisher     = National Institute for Health Research
| date          = 2014
| ref           = {{sfnref|NIHR}}
}}

*{{cite web
| title         = Publications – Guidance: Emergency response and recovery
| date = 29 October 2013
| url           = https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-response-and-recovery
| access-date    = 6 October 2016
| publisher     = [[Gov.uk]]
| ref           = {{sfnref|gov.uk Publications}}
}}

*{{cite web
 |title        = The Innovative Emergency Services Forum
 |url          = http://www.ukiesf.com/
 |access-date   = 8 October 2016
 |publisher    = UK Innovative Emergency Services Forum
 |ref          = {{sfnref|UKIESF 2016}}
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161010012523/http://www.ukiesf.com/
 |archive-date = 10 October 2016
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/emergency-planning Emergency planning] – from [[Gov.uk]]
*[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/risk-assessment-how-the-risk-of-emergencies-in-the-uk-is-assessed Risk assessment: how the risk of emergencies in the UK is assessed] – from Gov.uk
*[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparation-and-planning-for-emergencies-the-capabilities-programme Preparation and planning for emergencies: the National Resilience Capabilities Programme] – from Gov.uk
*{{cite report |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207227/the_lead_Government_department_and_its_role_-_guidance_and_best_practice.pdf |title=The Lead Government Department and its role - Guidance and Best Practice |id=261094/0304/D4 |publisher=Civil Contingencies Secretariat |date= |year=2004}}
*[https://twitter.com/UKResilience?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor UKResilience twitter account] – from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat
*[https://www.the-eps.org/ Emergency Planning Society] – official website

{{Cabinet Office}}

[[Category:Emergency management in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cabinet Office (United Kingdom)]]