Ambulance trusts submit resource recommendations
Having carried out that review, the trusts should make recommendations to their NHS commissioners about the additional and/or different resources they require in order to ensure that they are able to respond effectively to a mass casualty incident in the numbers required.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to implement improvements. The response committed to reviewing interoperability arrangements between emergency services and strengthening joint training and exercising protocols for major incidents.
Progress Timeline
Following the ambulance trust's reviews and submissions of their bids to their lead commissioners, NHS England and NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit is establishing a cross-functional working group to work directly with Ambulance Trusts and their lead commissioners. This group will review and prioritise bid content, ensuring alignment with service needs, identified capability gaps, and existing commitments. Where necessary, the group may intercept or restructure existing working arrangements to enable effective delivery. The outcome of this work will be presented to DHSC to give consideration to as required as part of another recommendation. Emerging insights from the 2025-26 planning and contracting round suggest limited evidence of additional funding from commissioners to date in response to these submissions. Ambulance response times have improved and there has been a similar improvement in the time lost to handover delays at emergency departments over the last two years as a consequence of the UEC Recovery plan therefore giving ambulance trusts greater capacity to respond to a major incident.
Following the ambulance trust's reviews and submissions of their bids to their lead commissioners, NHS England and NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit is establishing a cross-functional working group to work directly with Ambulance Trusts and their lead commissioners. This group will review and prioritise bid content, ensuring alignment with service needs, identified capability gaps, and existing commitments. Where necessary, the group may intercept or restructure existing working arrangements to enable effective delivery. The outcome of this work will be presented to DHSC to give consideration to as required as part of another recommendation. Emerging insights from the 2025-26 planning and contracting round suggest limited evidence of additional funding from commissioners to date in response to these submissions. Ambulance response times have improved and there has been a similar improvement in the time lost to handover delays at emergency departments over the last two years as a consequence of the UEC Recovery plan therefore giving ambulance trusts greater capacity to respond to a major incident.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027).
NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents."
View detailed findings
Representatives working with UK Intelligence Community to address closed Volume Three recommendations. Cross-government monitoring ongoing.