Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Strengthening National Resilience

Thursday 24 October 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is leading a review into national resilience against UK risks.
  • My hon. Friend noted the previous Administration left flood defences in the worst condition ever recorded.
  • UK Resilience Academy will be established next April to provide training for organisations, businesses, and individuals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Allison Gardner Lab Stoke-on-Trent South
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about recent public inquiries that have called for reform in national resilience, such as the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the covid-19 pandemic.

Question

What recent progress has his Department made on strengthening national resilience?

Answer from Abena Oppong-Asare

Our first duty as a Government is to keep people safe. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is leading a review into national resilience against the range of risks the UK faces.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about recent progress and actions taken was not addressed with concrete details or commitments.

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Q2 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Climate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of climate change on communities, citing examples such as a mini-tornado in Nottingham and flash floods in Madeley.

Question

In the last year alone, we have seen a mini-tornado in Nottingham, flash floods in Madeley and rain like no other across Newcastle-under-Lyme. We see the devastating effects of climate change every day. What is the Minister doing to improve resilience and preparation across central Government, local authorities, local communities and emergency services, to ensure that Newcastle-under-Lyme and the rest of our country are prepared for any and every extreme weather event?

Answer from Abena Oppong-Asare

My hon. Friend is right to raise that question. The previous Administration left our country's flood defences in the worst condition ever recorded, but we are improving resilience across government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about steps being taken was not addressed with concrete details or commitments.

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Q3 Allison Gardner Lab Stoke-on-Trent South
Community Security
Context

The MP is concerned about the importance of training and skills for people working to bring communities together and keep them safe, citing racial tension in Stoke-on-Trent South.

Question

If we are to ensure that the UK is resilient to the potential threats that face our country, it is vital that people who work to bring communities together and keep us safe are given the training, knowledge and skills that they need to play their part. Can the Minister tell the House what steps she is taking to support their work in that area?

Answer from Abena Oppong-Asare

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and in September I visited the Emergency Planning College. The UK Resilience Academy will be established next April to provide a wide range of training for organisations, businesses and individuals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about current support steps was not addressed with concrete details or commitments.

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Q4 John Glen Con Salisbury
Foreign Affairs Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP is concerned about the potential risks posed by genomic companies linked to systemic competitors, especially in relation to data privacy, national security and ethical concerns.

Question

National security experts have been warning about the Chinese Communist party's use of genomics companies to harvest DNA data globally and dominate the genomics industry supply chain. Given the increasing importance of genomics for public healthcare, and the potential dual-use application of the technology, will the Minister confirm whether her Department is conducting a risk assessment on the data privacy, national security and ethical risks posed by genomic companies linked to systemic competitors?

Answer from Abena Oppong-Asare

The right hon. Member is right to raise that question. We will ban China's economic engagement, and make sure we strengthen our national security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about conducting a risk assessment was not addressed with concrete details or commitments.

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