Where strategic decisions, such as the deployment of resources, the provision of information and the restoration of normality, are required in a major incident, the Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) is likely to be established in order to agree high-level objectives to guide the multi-agency response. Health, scientific and technical advice at this level will be provided through the Science & Technical Advice Cell (STAC), which brings together experts from all agencies to provide advice to the Gold Commander.

Part One of the STAC Arrangements document provides a policy framework outlining:

• The terms of reference for the STAC
• Supplementary information regarding the establishment of a STAC

Part Two of the document lays out the procedures for establishing a STAC within the policy framework, including:

• Notification, activation and escalation of the STAC
• Convening STAC meetings
• Communications requirements
• How the STAC can obtain additional expert advice
• What advice the STAC will provide and how
• Requirements for keeping records of meetings and key decisions
• Resilience issues with regard to providing the STAC

The main responsibilities of the STAC in response to an incident are to:

• Provide a common source of health, scientific and technical advice to the Gold Commander and other members of the SCG
• Monitor and coordinate the responding science and technical community to deliver on Gold’s high level objectives and immediate priorities
• Agree on any divergence from agreed arrangements for providing science and technical input
• Pool information available and arrive, as far as possible, at a common view on the scientific and technical merits of different courses of action
• Provide a common brief to the technical lead from each agency represented in the cell on the extent of the evidence base available, how the situation might develop and the likely effects of various mitigation strategies
• Identify other agencies/individuals with specialist advice who would be invited to join the cell in order to inform the response
• Liaise with national specialist advisors from agencies represented in the cell and, where appropriate, the wider scientific and technical community to ensure the best possible advice is provided
• Ensure advice presented locally and nationally is consistent
• Ensure a practical division of effort among the scientific response to avoid duplication and overcome any immediate problems arising
• Maintain a written record of decisions made and rationale