Future Pandemic Preparedness Ministerial Oversight Group minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

Co-Chairs

• Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care 
• Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

Lead Co-Chair

• Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

Member Attendees     

• Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic 
• Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans 
• Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise 
• Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health 
• Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture  

Guest Officials Attendees     

• Daniel Kleinberg, Deputy Director for Population Health Resilience and Protection and Co-Chair of FPP Cross Government Delivery Group 
• Mhairi McCowan, Deputy Director for Civil Contingencies and Co-Chair of FPP Cross Government Delivery Group 
• Richard Foggo, Director for Population Health

Secretariat    

• [Redacted] Pandemic Preparedness Unit, Population Health Resilience and Protection Division, Population Health Directorate

Items and actions

Welcome and Introductions

Angela Constance opened the meeting, welcomed attendees to Meeting 2 of the Ministerial Oversight Group for Future Pandemic Preparedness, noted apologies and confirmed that the minute of Meeting 1 was cleared by Members in March. Members were thanked for their ongoing commitment to the Group and the attendance of deputies when needed. 

Angela Constance outlined the purpose of the meeting, highlighting that Members will be updated on the current and emerging infectious disease risks to be aware of, the key drivers for improvement and progress made to advance pandemic preparedness across the 4 Nations. The substantive item for consideration will focus on how we will test our readiness within Scottish Government (SG) and in partnership with the Four Nations through the upcoming Tier 1 pandemic Exercise Pegasus, scheduled for Autumn. Including expectations of Ministers. 

Angela Constance set out the seriousness and importance of Exercise Pegasus, the commitment necessary and expectation of full engagement with the exercise across all levels of Scottish Government, including Ministers. 

The value of the exercise beyond preparing and responding to a pandemic risk was highlighted, recognising the opportunity presented to test the system, process and ways of working, which could be applied to broader diverse risks across portfolios. 

Angela Constance appealed to Members to recognise the collective and wider mutual interest and benefit engagement with the exercise offers. Angela Constance acknowledged the importance of understanding the accountability placed on Members and officials to collectively be prepared and ready for crises and for the response delivered, noting the necessity and commitment to practice the learning from Covid-19 and other events. 

Neil Gray reiterated the importance of full engagement in Pegasus, encouraging commitment from Ministers and officials to realise the opportunity the exercise presents to practice in real time, live with our partners within Scottish Government, across the UK and with close partners. 

Current and Emerging Infectious Disease Risks

Neil Gray introduced the agenda item and Daniel Kleinberg as contributor.

Daniel Kleinberg provided a summary of current public health protection threats under surveillance.

There is an ever-present risk of incursion of known infections from travellers overseas such as the very small number of cases of mpox clade 1b that have occurred in the UK.

We continue to monitor Avian Influenza in birds, livestock and wild animals, given the scale of infection in Cattle in the USA and its potential to mutate. 

The Pandemic Accord was agreed and adopted by members states at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 20 May, the World Health Organization’s main decision making body. This agreement supports global cooperation on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. 

Future Pandemic Preparedness Programme Updates 

[Redacted]
[Redacted]

Neil Gray introduced the agenda item and Daniel Kleinberg as contributor and drew attention to Paper 1 - Ministerial Oversight Group – Update Report. 

Daniel Kleinberg outlined key aspects of the update report and developments of interest within the current landscape of future pandemic preparedness work and progress on strategic developments all contributing to readiness for the UK wide Pegasus pandemic exercise.

The update on the data and PPE sub-groups within the report was highlighted, noting that the groups are established and operational and are beginning to feed into improvements. 

Paper 3 ‘Draft Pandemic ScotOps’ is currently under development, it begins to set out the structures that would be stood up to respond to a pandemic, including decision making, situational awareness and links to the business continuity. The paper outlines roles and responsibilities and includes the use of a 4 Harms approach to any pandemic.

Exercise Pegasus was noted as progressing at pace, with further opportunity to discuss at Agenda item 4. Daniel Kleinberg flagged attendance of exercise Alkarab, a mini table-top exercise on the 15 May.

The creation of the National Sciences Partnership - ‘The Partnership,’ borne from the Standing Committee on Pandemic Preparedness is now a Programme for Government commitment and will continue to be led by Public Health Scotland (PHS). The appointment will be announced in the coming month. 

Daniel Kleinberg went on to note several updates outwith paper 1; notably Christine McLaughlin has taken up the role of Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Scotland. Richard Foggo, Director for Population Health has assumed the Senior Strategic Lead role for pandemic risk as part of the Crisis Preparation Oversight Group governance structure. 

A brief overview of the positive discussion on pandemic preparedness across government at the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on Tuesday 3 June was shared. The committee was attended by Daniel Kleinberg, CMO and Jim McMenamin of PHS, progress made against the Module 1 recommendations, how pandemic preparedness connects to Civil Contingency policy and how we engage wider society were central to discussions.

Daniel Kleinberg closed by proposing that Members consider how to engage the wider political landscape in support of Pegasus. 

Neil Gray noted that the papers and Daniel Kleinberg's input offer assurance that a robust structure around pandemic preparedness is in place to ensure this group is well informed to enable this group to make the necessary decisions across the public sector to assure readiness. 

Neil Gray notes the need to ensure cross party and opposition parties are informed of this work to promote greater understanding and support across parliament. 

Angela Constance endorsed the proposal for proactive cross-party engagement, echoing the benefit of taking action prior to a crisis. 

Neil Gray welcomed the development of ScotOps to build resilience and provide a clear structure on how we approach a pandemic.

In discussion, Ministers noted that consideration of cross party engagement was timely, following positive feedback on the attendees input and discussion from the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. 
 

• Action 2.1 To share a readout of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee session on pandemic preparedness
• Action 2.2 FPP officials provide advice on further parliamentary engagement on Exercise Pegasus to promote understanding and support across government and parliament
   

Pandemic Exercise Pegasus

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[Redacted]

Angela Constance introduced the agenda item and [Redacted] as contributor and drew attention to Paper 2 and Paper 3.

Angela Constance reiterated the importance of engagement at all levels with Exercise Pegasus.

[Redacted] provided a summary of preparations underway for Exercise Pegasus. 

This will be the largest Tier 1, UK wide exercise, led by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which aims to rigorously test preparedness, capabilities and response strategies in the context of a pandemic arising from to a novel infectious disease in Autumn 2025. The exercise will role play across Scottish Government and the Four nations. 

The exercise will use a distinct three phase structure for the exercise to represent different stages and periods in time of a pandemic scenario. Each phase will be based around an anchor day on which central UK (and devolved) government coordination will be tested.

The exercise objectives build on the findings of the UK Covid Inquiry, the experience of COVID-19, and previous pandemic exercises. 

Ministers were made aware of the exercise dates and some of the key activities which the Scottish Government will be looking to test. [Redacted] 

Angela Constance noted how the comprehensive presentation speaks to the wider benefits of testing [ScotOps] strategic plans to broader scenarios than pandemics, recognised that the crises can occur at any time, are not cognisant of existing commitments. The exercise will be the closest we get to a live experience; members are encouraged to engage in the test crisis opportunity and expect diary requests shortly.

[Redacted] provided further details on testing our response to mis/disinformation, confirming that Communications colleagues are working on a new strategy, the Group will be kept informed. 

Neil Gray sought clarification on ScotOps’s ability to respond to a changing landscape including Covid Inquiry reporting.

Daniel Kleinberg confirmed that ScotOps is an iterative, live document which will adjust to new learning, noting the recommendations of Module 2 of the UK Covid Inquires will impact on its development.

Ministers raised the issue of security and whether all of government are being informed of relevant developments and reiterated the necessity of sharing relevant developments across government at a strategic level.
[Redacted] 

Daniel Kleinberg provided a summary and reflections of the Alkarab exercise on 15 May which gathered 150 senior officials from across UK Government, devolved administrations and partner agencies. [Redacted] 

Daniel Kleinberg sought Members support to engage with their officials on how ready business areas are for Pegasus and seek assurance on improvements necessary. 

Angela Constance encouraged all Members of the Group to seek assurance from officials on preparedness for Pegasus, including any issues identified at exercises. 
[Redacted]

Richard Foggo offered assurance that over the summer senior officials will be briefed on Pegasus to ensure a deeper understanding across DG’s and the ask of their officials. 
[Redacted] 
 

Any Other Business

Angela Constance thanked presenters and attendees for their contributions and participation. 

The next meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Group is scheduled for 10 December 2025 10:45-11:45.

Meeting closed.