flu, and for other infectious diseases. i was already aware of this element of the role from my time at the cabinet office, but nevertheless it was properly and formally brought to my attention, and on day one i asked for more information on preparedness, because, having been involved in previous crises, for instance at the bank of england, before i went into politics, i knew that when things go wrong, things move quickly and you need to be as well—prepared as you can. fill need to be as well-prepared as you can. �* . need to be as well-prepared as you can. �* , ., can. at the highest level of the department. — can. at the highest level of the department, was _ can. at the highest level of the department, was there - can. at the highest level of the department, was there a - can. at the highest level of the department, was there a board can. at the highest level of the - department, was there a board known as the departmental board, which looked at the highest level on the major risks confronting the department?— major risks confronting the de artment? , ., ., major risks confronting the deartment? , ., ., ., department? yes, and the role of the departmental— department? yes, and the role of the departmental board _ department? yes, and the role of the departmental board was _ department? yes, and the role of the departmental board was to _ department? yes, and the role of the departmental board was to ensure . departmental board was to ensure that the department was structuring itself properly to deal with the different challenges that it faced.