Room 405
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
70 Whitehall
www.cabinet office.gov.uk
London, SW1A 2AS
James Mclean
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
FOI Reference: FOI2020/12243
07/10/2020
Dear James Mclean
I refer to: your request where you asked:
“
1. Please can you confirm whether there is any specific government group co-
ordinating the coronavirus response?
2. Is the governments COBRA committee involved in dealing with the virus
3. Has anyone been appointed to ensure that ministers, civil servants and un-
elected advisors do not send out mixed messages to the public.
4. Has anyone or any body been set up to ensure that the governments policies
do not clash or contradict each other? This would avoid daft things like opening
pubs months before opening schools etc.
5. Does the government have a published strategy similar to the strategy in
Scotland.
I am writing to advise you that fol owing a search of our paper and electronic records, I
have established that the information you requested is held by the Cabinet Office.
There have been various Government structures that have been involved in
coordinating the response to COVID-19.
COBR continues to meet as required to support the Government's response to COVID-
19. COBR remains part of the Government's wider crisis management structure.
Four Ministerial Implementation Groups (MIGs) were created on 17 March. The MIGs
were a set of ministerial committees which considered specific issues and ministers
holding relevant policy responsibilities attended.
Information you have requested is exempt under section 21(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act. Section 21 exempts information if this information is reasonably
accessible to the applicant by other means. Section 21 is an absolute exemption and
the Cabinet Office is not required to consider whether the public interest favours
disclosure of this information.
Information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-
structures-to-coordinate-response-to-coronavirus
The MIGs met regularly in the first phase of the Government’s COVID-19 response
effort but were always intended to operate as interim governance structures. New
Cabinet Committee structures were established in June for the next phase. Information
can
be
found
here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cabinet-
committees-system-and-list-of-cabinet-committees
The Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-
covid-19-recovery-strategy
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the FOI Team quoting the
reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request or wish
to request an internal review, you should write to:
Eirian Walsh Atkins
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
You should note that the Cabinet Office wil not normal y accept an application for
internal review if it is received more than two months after the date that the reply was
issued. If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. General y, the Commissioner
cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided
by Cabinet Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
Cabinet Office