Defence Committee to hold evidence session on Defence's role in Covid-19 response
10 July 2020
On Tuesday 14 July, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hold its first evidence session as part of its inquiry into the contribution of Defence in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Watch the session on Parliament TV
- Inquiry: Defence contribution to the UK's pandemic response
- Defence Committee
Purpose of the session
The Committee will take a broader look at Defence's role in responding to crises and other contingencies, with specific reference to the ongoing pandemic. The session will cover the UK and Defence's preparations for pandemics, the MoD and Government's adaptions of plans in response to Covid-19, the Armed Forces and MoD's contribution, as well as what lessons should be learned.
Witnesses
The Committee will hear from three expert witnesses: Professor David Alexander, Dr Jennifer Cole and Bruce Mann CB. David Alexander is Professor of Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London (UCL). Dr Jennifer Cole is currently a Research Fellow in Antimicrobial Resistance at Royal Holloway, University of London. Dr Cole is also Public Policy Health Adviser to the Rockefeller Foundation Economic Council on Planetary Health at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford. Mr Mann has previously held a wide range of policy and operational roles within the MoD and Cabinet Office, including Secretary to the Review by Privy Counsellors of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction and Director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Mr Mann is currently an Associate of the UK Emergency Planning College and a Governor at the University of Plymouth.
Tuesday 14 July 2020
At 2.30pm:
- Professor David Alexander – University College London
- Dr Jennifer Cole – Royal Holloway University
- Bruce Mann CB
Further information
Image: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2020