Question
I wholeheartedly thank my hon. Friend the Minister for his statement. If he casts his mind back, he will remember the many conversations we had about Hurricane Melissa. I thank the Minister for the strengthening of partnerships among the 56 Commonwealth countries, but what steps are the Government taking to bolster the climate resilience of Commonwealth partners, particularly those on the frontline of climate change?
Answer
My hon. Friend is right about the many conversations that we had on behalf of her constituents during Hurricane Melissa and about the response of the UK Government. A succession of Administrations have worked to deliver climate resilient infrastructure that can withstand the impact of multiple hurricanes; I saw that myself when I was the first international Minister to visit Black River following the hurricane in December last year. We will continue that focus on climate resilience investment, and in some cases we can use procurement to offer British firms that work in individual countries. That will always remain a priority, and it is something that we take extremely seriously.17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (27/100)
The reply responds mainly by discussing Jamaica and Hurricane Melissa, not the wider Commonwealth or the most exposed partners the question asked about. Its substantive content is a general reference to past infrastructure work and a commitment to continue climate resilience investment, without specific figures, programmes or timescales. The question is therefore only partly answered, and in a largely hedged way, so the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the Government is doing to bolster the climate resilience of Commonwealth partners, including those most exposed to climate change. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply is almost entirely about Jamaica and Hurricane Melissa rather than the wider Commonwealth or the most exposed partners the question names. Its substantive content is a general claim about past infrastructure work, a commitment to "continue that focus on climate resilience investment" with no detail, and a procurement point about British firms that is only loosely tied to resilience. |