My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

A report of exercise peak practice has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office.

Exercise peak practice consisted of 10 strategic, tabletop exercises, one led by each strategic health authority in England to help prepare for a possible second wave of swine flu this winter.

The events achieved the intended aim of exercising the management of the NHS and social care systems against the backdrop of normal seasonal activity and the rising threat posed by swine flu. The report also summarises the NHS Board statements of readiness for responding to swine flu, which show that there are robust leadership and governance arrangements in place.

We must not underestimate the threat that swine flu still poses but all our pandemic planning means that both NHS and social care are well placed to respond.