What's Changed
Recent government responses and implementation updates across all tracked inquiries.
16 July 2026
Independent Statutory Resilience Body
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 18 May 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
Triennial Parliamentary Resilience Reports
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 12 January 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
Triennial Pandemic Exercises
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 18 May 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
Simplify Emergency Preparedness Structures
Cabinet was provided with a written update on risk, resilience, and preparedness in March 2026, and will continue to receive updates on a regular basis.
Scottish Government
Pandemic Data Systems and Research
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 18 May 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
External Red Teams for Resilience
The Scottish Government is working with NHS Highland to develop red team resources for use across the civil contingencies landscape.
Scottish Government
Improved Risk Assessment Approach
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 18 May 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
UK-wide Civil Emergency Strategy
The Scottish Government wrote to the inquiry chair on 18 May 2026 to confirm that this recommendation has been delivered and closed.
Scottish Government
Publish Exercise Reports and Lessons
The Scottish Government and the UK Government are both undertaking analysis and evaluation of Exercise Pegasus. The findings from both reports will be published in late 2026.
Scottish Government
Joint exercises on triage procedure
All of those involved in maritime SAR recognise the importance and value of joint exercises on the recovery of multiple persons from the water. HMCG and BSC have participated in …
HM Coastguard
Survivability advice to persons in distress
HMCG Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were reviewed and updated in May 2024, providing assurance that they align to internationally recognised requirements contained within the IMO’s IAMSAR Manual
HM Coastguard
Reconsider Border Force SAR function
The Department is conducting a review of the MCA which will consider its functions, form, governance and performance. It will report to Ministers this year and inform Government’s response to …
Department for Transport
Cold water survivability modelling
HMCG have carefully considered and confirmed it is using the most appropriate model for survivability in cold water. This is because it adheres to the internationally set guidance from the …
HM Coastguard
Network flexing risk mitigation
HMCG recognises that whilst its national network does provide critical business resilience, small boat operations pose particular challenges due to the nature of multiple interconnected incidents. Sin
HM Coastguard
Mass Persons in Water Triage procedure
The Multiple Persons in Water Triage Tool developed by HMCG has been adopted by the RNLI and vessels that are contracted by Border Security Command (BSC). Following international consultation and …
HM Coastguard
Mass Persons in Water Triage procedure
Recommendation 5: Those involved in maritime search and rescue should adopt formally the Mass Persons in the Water Triage procedure to govern the operational response to a maritime search and …
Department for Transport
Independent external oversight body
The Department is conducting a review of the MCA which will consider its functions, form, governance and performance. It will report to Ministers this year and inform Government’s response to …
Department for Transport
Joint exercises on triage procedure
Recommendation 6: Those involved in maritime search and rescue should continue to undertake joint exercises on the application of the Mass Persons in the Water Triage procedure. All of those …
Department for Transport
Regular assessment of assets and resources
HMCG recognises the importance of regular assessments and has the following operational measures in place for the review of assets: • SAR asset availability (surface vessels and aircraft) is assessed
HM Coastguard
IMO recommendation on triage tool
Government agrees that the international sharing of best practice and knowledge is beneficial, including in the form of guidance where appropriate. The IMRF updated its Mass Rescue Operations Guidance
Department for Transport
Mass rescue operation plan
HMCG refreshed its Mass Rescue Operations Plan in April 2026 (introduced in 2017 and previously amended in 2018 and 2021). It has been updated to ensure continued alignment with IAMSAR …
HM Coastguard
Mass rescue operation plan
Recommendation 16: HM Coastguard should develop a mass rescue operation plan that includes command and control, co-ordination, external stakeholders, medical and law enforcement roles, and public and
Department for Transport
Training on normalcy bias
HMCG recognises the importance of specific training and retraining on small boats for its staff. Training was introduced in the summer of 2021 in recognition of the increasing numbers of …
HM Coastguard
Protocol for duty to assist referrals
Recommendation 17: HM Coastguard and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency should establish a protocol for referrals by HM Coastguard to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s regulatory compliance investi
Department for Transport
Regular assessment of assets and resources
Recommendation 3: There should be regular assessments by HM Coastguard of the adequacy of the available assets and human resources to respond to both current and reasonably foreseeable levels of …
Department for Transport
Survivability advice to persons in distress
Recommendation 8: HM Coastguard should amend its existing policies to incorporate the need to provide more comprehensive advice about survivability to people in distress at sea. HMCG Standard Operatin
Department for Transport
Coastguard role in legislation
The Department is conducting a review of the MCA which will consider its functions, form, governance and performance. It will report to Ministers this year and inform Government’s response to …
Department for Transport
MoU between Coastguard and Border Force
Recommendation 14: For so long as the current arrangements in relation to search and rescue in the English Channel remain in place, the roles and responsibilities of HM Coastguard and …
Department for Transport
MAIB publication of implementation measures
Recommendation 18: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch should make publicly available on its website, as soon as possible after they are received, the details of implementation measures taken by
Department for Transport
Cold water survivability modelling
Recommendation 9: HM Coastguard should examine whether it is using the most appropriate modelling for survivability in cold water. HM Coastguard should amend its existing policies to ensure that they
Department for Transport
Joint training exercises plan
Recommendation 15: HM Coastguard should develop and implement a plan for joint training exercises, to occur at set intervals, with participation by those involved in maritime search and rescue in …
Department for Transport
Equipment and techniques development
Recommendation 10: HM Coastguard must continue to liaise with search and rescue partners in the UK and abroad to identify opportunities for the development or deployment of equipment and techniques …
Department for Transport
Equipment and techniques development
HMCG recognises the importance of liaising with SAR partners in the UK and abroad and will continue to do so. HMCG meets monthly with the RNLI and has bilateral meetings …
HM Coastguard
Network flexing risk mitigation
Recommendation 1: Given the risks associated with HM Coastguard’s use of network flexing for small boat search and rescue – whereby its workforce is split between different geographical locations – …
Department for Transport
MoU between Coastguard and Border Force
The Department is working with HMCG and Border Security Command (within the Home Office) to put in place a memorandum of understanding setting out roles and responsibilities. An update will …
HM Coastguard
Technology for duplicate incident reconciliation
Recommendation 2: HM Coastguard should seek, at pace, to invest in the technology required to support its ability to reconcile duplicate small boat incidents. Where this cannot be accommodated within
Department for Transport
Training on normalcy bias
Recommendation 4: HM Coastguard should provide frequent training and retraining for their staff in aspects of search and rescue specific to small boats, one being the need to avoid normalcy …
Department for Transport
Technology for duplicate incident reconciliation
Duplicate incidents are those where multiple calls are received about the same boat and/or there are multiple boats in the channel simultaneously, creating a complex and unclear operational picture. T
HM Coastguard
Joint training exercises plan
The most recent joint exercise involving all participants simultaneously was at Dover MRCC on 7 December 2023. Representatives from French Coast Guard and SNSM (the French lifeboat service) were prese
HM Coastguard
14 July 2026
Emergency Healthcare Equipment Plan
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Emergency Procurement and Distribution Systems
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Data and Technology in Emergency Procurement
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Emergency Healthcare Equipment Regulations
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Pandemic Exercises to Include Emergency Procurement
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Trade and Industry in the Civil Emergency Strategy
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Training in Emergency Procurement and Distribution
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Commercial Framework for Emergency Procurement
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Transparency, Governance and Accountability in Emergencies
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Blueprints for Critical Care Medical Technology
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.
Pandemic Stockpile Composition and Inspection
Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 5 report published 14 July 2026.