To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 608W, on armed forces: influenza, if he will place in the Library a copy of each completed guidance note referred to in his Department’s pandemic influenza contingency plan published in December 2007. (184269)

I have placed copies of the preliminary and prepare stage guidance notes of the MOD framework in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 608W, on armed forces: influenza, when he plans to issue guidance on the development of plans for the recovery of operational capability in the aftermath of a human pandemic, as stated in paragraph 2.15 of his Department’s pandemic influenza contingency plan, published in December 2007. (184296)

The generic MOD pandemic flu framework brings together activities which for the most part will be undertaken by Defence business units and operational commands so that they can put in place the necessary response arrangements before a pandemic emerges. The guidance notes being prepared to support the key tasks identified in the framework consist of one-page summaries to assist them. As the framework is a live document, whose development remains ongoing, all the guidance being developed is subject to regular review and amendment.

At the strategic level we are confident that in its current form the framework we have developed covers the key areas we need to address in the event of a pandemic. At present work on the guidance note “Recovery of operational capability in the aftermath of a pandemic” (along with other guidance notes) remains ongoing. We hope to complete this in the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 608W, on armed forces: influenza, by what mechanism medical treatments will be prioritised in the event of an influenza pandemic as stated in paragraph 2.8 of his Department's pandemic influenza contingency plan, published in December 2007. (184298)

MOD policy on the prioritisation of medical treatment in the event of a flu pandemic is to refer to the authoritative Department of Health guidelines (based on clinical need) and comprehensive information and guidelines to this effect have been issued by the Surgeon General to the Defence Medical Services.