Dr Neil Hudson took to the Commons floor to thank all those involved in Cumbria and across the UK in our response to the record high temperatures.
His remarks came in response to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s emergency statement on the response to recent extreme heat conditions where at least 34 locations around the UK exceeded the country’s previous highest temperature.
From utilities companies and railway maintenance teams to NHS staff and firefighters the UK’s national resolve shone through while responding to the unprecedented situation. While emergency services were undoubtedly stretched the systems put in place, particularly around Fire and Rescue, functioned magnificently.
Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border, said: “Can I thank my Rt Hon. Friend for his statement, and thank him and his department, the cross-government working in the planning and resilience in these unprecedented weather times? Can I thank our emergency services, people in the public services, the NHS, in the front line and Fire and Rescue, Police, and our local authorities, our transport networks and people at large, our community volunteers?
“Will my Rt Hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to those people in Cumbria and right across the UK for all that they have done and continue to do to keep people safe?
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Kit Malthouse MP, replied: “Well Mr Speaker that is a very welcome question from the Hon. Gentleman and I'm, of course, more than happy to join him in thanking all those people who as I say played on the team to get us through and such good shape.
“There were obviously some tragedies, but the fact that we are able to minimise the number was a tribute to the work of all the organisations that he mentioned.
“And while I'm answering can I also take the opportunity, Mr Speaker, to pay tribute to my staff in the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, who have worked round the clock over the last few days and in particular closely with the Met Office as we sought to predict and prepare the country, coordinating across Whitehall and indeed all those other agencies? It's been a really remarkable effort and as I say, notwithstanding the terrible tragedies that we have seen, the fact we got through in good shape was down to all of their work.”
Speaking afterwards Dr Neil Hudson MP added: “As I said in the Chamber, the extreme temperatures we have witnessed this week are unprecedented so for us as a nation to show such resilience in the face of the unknown is truly heartening. Up here in Cumbria and across the country our emergency services and people in our communities have excelled themselves.
“I thank the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for his answer, it was clear to me from what he said that both he and his staff at the Civil Contingencies Secretariat care deeply about making sure government provides robust defences against extreme weather events.
“With that said, unfortunately climate scientists are still predicting that extreme weather events will become ever more prevalent in the coming years, driving home the value of our world class emergency responders, both on the front line and in community groups, local authorities and transport networks.”
