Local Resilience Forums and volunteer groups to be quizzed on UK’s risk assessment
Tuesday 18 May 2021
Tomorrow (Wednesday 19 May) the House of Lords Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee will be questioning two panels of experts as it continues its inquiry into risk assessment and risk planning in the context of disruptive national hazards.
At 10.15am the committee will quiz Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). Giving evidence will be:
- Dr Fiona Twycross, Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience and Chair of the London Resilience Forum
- John Barradell OBE, Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation and Deputy Chair of the London Resilience Forum
- Stuart Marshall, Chief Emergency Planning Officer and LRF Manager, Cleveland LRF
- Chief Constable Rachel Swann, Derbyshire's Chief Constable, Derbyshire LRF, Derby and Derbyshire LRF
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- Is the National Security Risk Assessment a useful document for LRFs and is it fit for purpose? How could it be improved?
- How do LRFs engage with the community, particularly vulnerable groups? What engagement do you have with volunteer forces?
- Is the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 fit for purpose? Do LRFs have adequate statutory footing and what do they make of the Government’s Integrated Review suggestion of creating a ‘Volunteer Cadre’ to support resilience?
At 11.15am the committee will hear from volunteer groups. Giving evidence will be:
- Lynda Battarbee, Director of Operations, Trussell Trust
- Adrian Clee, National Emergency Response Lead, Salvation Army
- Richard Lee MBE, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO, St John Ambulance
- Alistair Read, National Training Officer, Mountain Rescue England and Wales
Questions the Committee is likely to ask include:
- Do you have regular contact and established communication channels with central and local Government, both in ‘peace’ time and during an emergency?
- What, in your view, is your role in building UK resilience and responding to emergencies? What have you learnt from your experience responding to COVID-19?
- How do you recruit talented volunteers, train them to a high standard, and maintain them for a long period? If the Government established a volunteer force, what advice would you give them?
The session can be followed on Parliament TV.
