The Act and accompanying measures delivers a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom. It provides a framework to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The Act received Royal assent on 18 November 2004, it is a regulatory act and the Government issued Regulations under the Act from October 2005.

The Act specifies responders to emergencies. These are:

Category 1 (The principal responders to emergencies and on whom the main duty of planning would fall)

• Local Authorities
• Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Police
• Fire and Rescue
• Scottish Ambulance Service
• Scottish Health Boards
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Category 2 (Those who support an emergency response and would have lesser duties to co-operate in planning and sharing information)

• Scottish Water
• The Common Services Agency of the NHS (Scotland)
• Gas providers
• Electricity providers
• Telecommunications companies
• Railway companies
• Airport operators
• Harbour authorities

The Council has seven main duties under the Act:

• Risk assessment
• Planning to continue functions (Business Continuity Management and Business Continuity Planning)
• Planning to respond to emergency
• Warn and inform the public
• Advising and promoting Business Continuity Management
• Co-operation with Category 1 and 2 responders
• Information sharing