To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the preparedness of (a) fire and rescue authorities and (b) local authorities for an influenza pandemic. (262593)

The Government make no detailed assessment of preparedness for this purpose as it is for local authorities and the Fire and Rescue Service to decide how to meet their legal obligations to plan for an influenza pandemic under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. As members of Local Resilience Forums they are also required to work with other local emergency responders to co-ordinate their planning against such a contingency. Also, these “flu plans” are regularly tested and validated during both national and local exercises.