To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 17 October 2007, Official Report, column 1170W, on influenza, whether the public engagement programme has commenced; what workstreams are anticipated as part of that programme; whether it will seek to understand public attitudes with respect to the prioritisation of (a) intensive care beds, (b) vaccines and (c) antivirals; whether he intends to undertake the programme prior to publication of the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic; and if he will make a statement. (166323)

The contract for the public engagement programme has been awarded. Public workshops are planned for early 2008.

The aim of the project is to engage with the public to understand how they might think and react in the event of an influenza pandemic; including seeking their views on prioritisation of intensive care beds, vaccines and antivirals. This will enable us to refine the communications strategy that supports the “National Framework for Responding to an Influenza Pandemic”, which has just been published.