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List of LGDs' Responsibilities

See also The Lead Government Department and its role - Guidance and Best Practice (CCS: March 2004) [PDF, 50 pages, 612KB]

1. Default position

Where the disaster is too wide-ranging to be handled by a single department, or where the lead is not clear from this list:

UK - The Cabinet Office's Civil Contingencies Secretariat is responsible for taking the immediate lead and then for ensuring that one department is confirmed as the lead government department. The CCS is also responsible for resolving all cases of doubt so that one department is promptly confirmed as the lead. Where the incident is threatened or caused by terrorism, the initial phase is led by the Home Office.

Scotland - The Scottish Executive Justice Department (SEJD) will initiate the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team, provide advice on lead allocation, and where appropriate will make a recommendation to Scottish Executive Ministers and the Permanent Secretary.

Wales - The HR (Facilities and Emergencies) Division of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) will take the immediate lead for any matters which are devolved and in which the lead role needs to be confirmed.

Northern Ireland - The Central Emergency Planning Unit (CEPU) of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will provide advice on lead allocation and, where appropriate, will make a recommendation to the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service on this.

2. Terrorism: conventional/siege/hostage

GB -  Home Office's Office of Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) leads during the counter terrorist phase. If matters move to the stage of managing the consequences of a terrorist incident, the lead is transferred to the CCS.

Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Administration

CBRN (CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR) TERRORISM

GB -  Home Office OSTC leads during the counter terrorist phase.

Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Administration

CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT:

England - If matters move to the stage of managing the consequences of a terrorist CBRN incident, the lead is transferred to Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Scotland - Consequence management for devolved functions following terrorism within Scotland would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team.

Wales - Consequence management for devolved functions following terrorism within Wales would fall to the WAG and its own lead department arrangements.

Northern Ireland - Consequence management for devolved functions following terrorism within Northern Ireland would fall to the Northern Ireland Office and its own lead department arrangements.

3. Civil Defence

UK - Cabinet Office, CCS working closely with the Overseas Defence Secretariat.

4. Flooding (coastal or riverine)

England - Defra. Recovery in England: when matters move to the stage of managing the recovery from Flooding, the lead is trasferred to DCLG.

Scotland - Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)

Wales - Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the Welsh Assembly Government

Northern Ireland - Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

5. Pollution to groundwaters and surface waters, marine and coastal waters (oil, chemical or gas) & marine salvage

A) POLLUTION FROM VESSELS AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS:

UK - Counter Pollution Branch of DfT's Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Scotland -  As for UK but with SEERAD involvement

B) POLLUTION TO GROUND WATERS AND SURFACE WATERS, INCLUDING TO MARINE WATERS (UP TO 3 MILES OUT) ARISING FROM MAJOR POLLUTION FROM LAND BASED SOURCES

England -  Defra working with the Environment Agency. For marine water pollution the EA will work in association with DfT's MCA.

Scotland -  SEERAD. For marine water pollution SEERAD will work in association with the MCA.

Wales -  Department for Environment, Planning (DEPC) and Countryside of the WAG working with Defra and the Environment Agency. For marine water pollution DEPC will work in association with the MCA.

Northern Ireland -  Department of the Environment. For marine water pollution, in association with the MCA

C) CONTROL OF MARITIME SALVAGE OPERATIONS

UK - DfT's Maritime and Coastguard Agency

6. Radiation Hazards

UK -  Defra (The UK's Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET); for which Defra is responsible, supports all UK radiological emergencies)

A) IF INCIDENT IS INITIATED OR THREATENED BY TERRORISM:

GB -  Home Office OSCT. If matters move to the stage of managing the consequences of an incident, the lead will transfer as indicated in b), c) and d) below.

Northern Ireland -  Northern Ireland Office. If matters move to the stage of managing the consequences of an incident, the lead will transfer as indicated in b), c) and d) below.

B) CIVIL NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS

England - The department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

Wales - BERR, in consultation with the Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Scotland - BERR, but consequence management for develoved functions would fall to Scottish Executive Transport, Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Department (SEETLLD)

Northern Ireland - BERR but consequence management for develoved functions would fall to NI Department of the Environment

C) DEFENCE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS AND DEFENCE NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN TRANSIT

UK -  Ministry of Defence (MOD)

Scotland - As for the UK but consequence management for devolved functions would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team. For materials in transit by land, SEETLLD Transport Group would lead.

Wales - As for UK but HR (Facilities and Emergencies Division) would co-ordinate consequence management issues within the WAG.

Northern Ireland -  As for the UK, but lead for consequence management would be Department of the Environment.

D) ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF RADIATION FROM CIVIL NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN TRANSIT

England - Department for Transport

Scotland - As for England and Wales, in liaison with SEETLLD Transport Group.

Wales - Department for Transport, but HR (Facilities and Emergencies) Division would co-ordinate consequence management issues within the WAG

Northern Ireland -  Department of the Environment.

7. Hazardous Materials - chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents arising from non-terrorist causes

England - CCS would ensure that, dependent on the cause of the incident, a lead department was identified for the emergency phase. If matters moved to the stage of managing the consequences, the lead would pass to Defra.

Scotland - Consequence management for devolved functions would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team.

Wales -  HR (Facilities and Emergencies) Division would co-ordinate consequence management issues within the WAG.

Northern Ireland - The appropriate lead NI department for the outcome of the event would lead on consequence management.

8. Radiation Hazards (arising outside the United Kingdom)

UK -  Defra. (see 6 above)

A) WHERE HAZARD ARISES AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACTION OVERSEAS

UK - Home Office OSCT to lead in considering potential threat to UK of a co-ordinated attack against UK targets.

B) AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENTS

UK - Defra lead role is to co- ordinate the UK response for consequence management, in consultation with :

Wales - Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside, working with the Environment Agency.

Scotland -  SEERAD EPU and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Northern Ireland -  Department of the Environment

9. Satellite Incidents

UK - The CO (CCS) is responsible for ensuring a lead department takes responsibility for managing consequences once these become clear. Planning will be based on CCS assessments worked up in close consultation with the British National Space Centre of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

10. Emergencies on Offshore Installations

UK -  Health and Safety Executive (in the DWP)

11. Disasters Overseas (in which UK assistance is sought)

UK - Department for International Development (DfID)

12. Mass influx of people from abroad (e.g. in event of humanitarian crisis or disaster)

England, Wales and Northern Ireland -  Home Office.

Scotland -  Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team.

13. Search and Rescue

A) CIVIL MARITIME AND COASTAL RESCUE

UK -  DfT's MCA

B) MILITARY SHIPPING AND AIRCRAFT, CIVIL AIRCRAFT AT SEA AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT ON LAND WHEN THE LOCATION IS NOT KNOWN

(when the location is known the emergency is treated as a transport accident - see 15 below).

UK - Ministry of Defence

14. Severe Storms and Weather

England - CCS is responsible for ensuring which department takes the lead in good time to support the response to severe storms and weather.

A) IF THE PRIMARY IMPACT IS ON THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

England - DfT for UK air, rail network in GB, and roads and ports in England.

Scotland -  SEETLLD Transport Group for roads and ports.

Wales -  Department for Economic Development and Transport of the WAG, for roads and ports.

Northern Ireland -  Department for Regional Development, for roads, ports and rail.

B) IF THE PRIMARY IMPACT IS ON THE POWER SYSTEM

England and Wales -  BERR

Scotland -  BERR for restoring services, SEETLLD for devolved aspects of consequence management.

Northern Ireland - Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

C) IF THE SEVERE WEATHER'S PRIMARY EFFECT IS FLOODING

England - Defra. Recovery in England: when matters move to the stage of managing the recovery from flooding, the lead is transferred to DCLG.

Scotland -  SEERAD

Wales -  Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG

Northern Ireland - Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or Department for Regional Development, depending on the source of flooding

D) IF THE PRIMARY IMPACT IS ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

England -  DCLG

Scotland -  Consequence management for devolved functions would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team

Wales -  Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG

Northern Ireland - The appropriate lead NI Department for the outcome would lead on consequence management.

15. Transport Accidents (including those overseas involving UK registered ships and aircraft)

A) SHIPPING AND OTHER TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS AT SEA

UK - DfT (MCA)

B) LAND TRANSPORT

England - DfT

Scotland - SEETLLD (Transport Group)

Wales -  Department for Economic Development and Transport of the WAG

Northern Ireland -  Department for Regional Development.

16. Disasters in Sports Grounds (whether sporting or non-sporting events)

England -  DCMS

Scotland - SEJD

Wales - The Local Government and Culture Department of the WAG

Northern Ireland -  Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

17. Dam Failures

England - Defra

Scotland - SEERAD

Wales -  Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG

Northern Ireland - Department for Regional Development

18. Earthquakes

England - DCLG

Wales - Department for the Environment, Planning and Countryside

Scotland - SEJD Lead, Consequence management would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team

Northern Ireland - Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

19. Major Structural Failures in Buildings (other than those caused by external impact, gas explosion, fire or industrial process)

England -  DCLG. If the focus is on the wider commercial or economic impacts - BERR. Where failure resulted in major transport disruption - DfT.

Scotland - Consequence management would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team.

Wales - Lead WAG department would depend on the outcome of the event.

Northern Ireland - Lead NI department would depend on the outcome of the event.

20. Serious Industrial Accidents

England - The CO(CCS) is responsible for confirming the Lead Government Department in good time to support the response to an industrial accident.

Scotland - SEJD. Consequence management for devolved functions would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team.

Wales - The HR (Facilities and Emergencies) Division of the WAG will determine the lead if the main focus of attention is a devolved matter.

Northern Ireland - Lead NI department would depend on the nature and outcome of the event.

A) IF THE MAIN FOCUS OF ATTENTION RELATES TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE HSE

England and Wales - DWP working with HSE.

Scotland - SEETLLD

Northern Ireland - Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, working with HSE, NI.

B) IF THE MAIN FOCUS OF ATTENTION RELATES TO THE WIDER ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL IMPACTS

England - BERR

Scotland - SEETLLD consequence management would fall to the Scottish Executive Emergency Action Team

Wales - Welsh Assembly Government

Northern Ireland - Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

C) POLLUTION ARISING

England - Defra (see also Radiation Hazards) working with the Enviornment Agency

Scotland - SEERAD

Wales -  Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG

Northern Ireland -  Department of the Environment

21. Unexploded Wartime Ordnance

A) DISPOSAL

UK - police calling on MoD support

B) INFORMATION ON WHEREABOUTS OF UNEXPOLDED BOMBS

UK -  DCLG

22. Major Software Failures (analogous to Y2K)

UK - CO(CCS) in consultation with the e-Government unit

Scotland - SE Offices of the Permanent Secretary (Communications and Information Services Division) SE-OPS (CISD)

Wales - HR (Facilities and Emergencies) Division of the WAG will co-ordinate activity in their areas in support of the UK effort where there is a Welsh dimension.

Northern Ireland -  Department of Finance and Personnel

23. Electronic Attack

UK - Home Office/CPNI

Scotland - SE-OPS (CISD) will co-ordinate activity in their areas in support of the UK effort where there is a Scottish dimension.

Wales - HR(Facilities and Emergencies) Division of the WAG will co-ordinate activity in their areas in support of the UK effort where there is a Welsh dimension.

Northern Ireland - Department of Finance and Personnel will co-ordinate activity in their areas in support of the UK effort where there is a Northern Ireland dimension.

24. Disruption of Supply Chains

UK - 

England - Defra - food, water, waste

Scotland - The appropriate SE department depending on the outcome of the disruption:

Wales - 

Northern Ireland - The appropriate NI department depending on the outcome of the disruption.

25. Animal Disease and Welfare

UK - Defra is responsible for EU & international aspects

GB -  Defra co-ordinates disease control policy and veterinary advice

Domestic policy and operational:

England - Defra (with Department of Health/Food Standards Agency if threat to human health (zoonosis))

Scotland - SEERAD in association with Defra/State Veterinary Service.

Wales - Department of Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG in association with DEFRA/State Veterinary Services.

Northern Ireland - Department for Agriculture and Rural Development

26. Food Contamination

England - the Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Scotland - FSA in Scotland

Wales - FSA in Wales

Northern Ireland -  FSA in Northern Ireland

27. Drinking Water Contamination

England - Defra working with the Drinking Water Inspectorate

Scotland - SEERAD

Wales - Department of Sustainable Development of the WAG working with the Drinking Water Inspectorate .

Northern Ireland - Department for Regional Development

28. Infectious Diseases

England - Department of Health with assistance from the Health Protection Agency.

Scotland - SEERAD

Wales - Office of the CMO with the assistance of the Public Health Laboratories Service.

Northern Ireland - Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

29. Plant Diseases

England - Defra working with the Forestry Commission

Scotland - SEERAD working with the Forestry Commission

Wales - Department of Environment, Planning and Countryside of the WAG, working with the Forestry Commission.

Northern Ireland - Department of Agriculture and Rural Development working with the Forestry Commission.

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