A business continuity show is urging the government to set up a designated department to coordinate planning for disasters.

Business Continuity Expo, with backing from the Business Continuity Institute, has set up a petition on the 10 Downing Street website to urge the prime minister to set up "a designated lead department within central government to coordinate, initiate and oversee business continuity management within all other government departments".

"Without a keystone to provide oversight across all ministries with activities and responsibilities in this area, it is impossible to have a coherent strategy for the assurance of business activities," said Richard Fitzhugh, content manager at Business Continuity Expo.

"This will lead ultimately to a genuine threat to the organisations that provide the nation's critical services: employment, finance, utilities transport, food and security."

The petition is available to sign at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Continuity/ [1]