Speeches by Whitby.

“This question is for everyone. If you could prioritise any improvements to monitoring flood risk and water levels, what would they be and why?”

“Prioritise.”

“Dr Sayers, what role should short and long-term weather forecasting play in flood resilience and how effective has it been in preparing for flooding incidents?”

“Forecasting.”

“You mentioned the improvements. A question for everyone: how can the weather forecasting and its use be improved to support flood resilience measures? Exactly how will it happen? To any member of the panel.”

“A question first of all to Dr Sayers. How comprehensive and how joined up is England’s monitoring of flood risk and water levels, especially in those areas most susceptible to flooding?”

“Dr McDonagh, do you have any more comments on coastal communities?”

“This question is for everyone. If you could prioritise any improvements to monitoring flood risk and water levels, what would they be and why?”

“Prioritise.”

“Dr Sayers, what role should short and long-term weather forecasting play in flood resilience and how effective has it been in preparing for flooding incidents?”

“Forecasting.”

“You mentioned the improvements. A question for everyone: how can the weather forecasting and its use be improved to support flood resilience measures? Exactly how will it happen? To any member of the panel.”

“Under the previous Government, bus services in rural areas were decimated. The number of bus journeys in the Derbyshire Dales declined by 55% between 2010 and 2023. What steps is the Minister taking to stop further cuts to bus services in rural areas like the Derbyshire Dales.”

“I cannot because I have to go to a Delegated Legislation Committee in a minute. I apologise. I also welcome the fact that the Bill enables the creation of new local authority schools. Under the previous Government, new schools were required to be academies or free schools, and that policy was based on ideology rather t…”

“This is an extremely welcome Bill that addresses some long-standing issues in social care and education. There are much-needed measures to ease the capacity pressures on fostering services by offering family group decision making and requiring all councils to publish a kinship offer. There are very welcome measures for…”

“Q The Bill makes it illegal to sell vaping products to under-18s, and to proxy-buy vapes for children, but it does not make it illegal for under-18s to buy vapes. What is your view on that? Professor Steve Turner: I support the Bill as it stands. I think that the onus has to be on the vendor not to sell, not on crimina…”

“Q Do you think there is anything missing from the Bill that would be beneficial for retailers? Inga Becker-Hansen: I think the key would be guidance for retailers on implementation and how the measures will be carried out. Again, there is the idea of encouraging a consumer-facing public awareness campaign that highligh…”

“Q There are obviously going to be future health benefits and financial benefits but, realistically, based on what happened in New Zealand, how quickly are we going to feel the benefits, public health-wise and financially? It is going to take years for us to realise the benefits of the Bill. Professor Linda Bauld: This …”

“The UK was one of 44 countries that failed to submit a NBSAP before COP16. Could you help the Committee to understand why we failed to meet that deadline?”

“Would “in due course” be before the next COP in Rome?”