Question
The Cornish peninsula is on the frontline of our Atlantic storms—and we are getting more storms. In January, Cornwall was smashed by Storm Goretti, as the Minister knows. Cornish MPs then met Ministers and civil servants to discuss the Cornish infrastructure issues that were exposed. On Thursday, 18,000 Cornish properties were left without power after the first storm of the season. Can the Minister advise, following those discussions, specifically on what the Government changed in Cornwall’s infrastructure to improve our resilience in the nine months between 6 January and 22 October? The time for talk is over.
Answer
I agree with the hon. Member that Cornwall is on the frontline when it comes to our resilience. I am personally determined to ensure that we not only learn but implement lessons post Storm Goretti. There has been extensive consultation between officials in the Cabinet Office and in Cornwall. As I referenced earlier, the storm summit that will be taking place later next month provides an important opportunity to discuss those issues further.20% vibes
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The question asked for specific infrastructure changes made to improve Cornwall's resilience to storms. The reply does not name any change. It gives a general commitment to learn lessons and says officials have consulted Cornwall, then defers further discussion to a future storm summit. The answer is only partly addressed and stays vague throughout, so the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up to get the specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What specific changes the Government made to Cornwall's infrastructure to improve its resilience between 6 January and 22 October, following discussions with Cornish MPs and officials about the infrastructure issues exposed by Storm Goretti. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The question asks for specific infrastructure changes made to improve Cornwall's resilience, which is a literal request rather than a general-position question. The reply names no change at all: it offers a general determination to learn lessons (statement 2) and confirms extensive officials' consultation with Cornwall (statement 3), which partly touches the 'discussions' element. It then points to a future storm summit as the place to discuss issues further (statements 4-5), which defers rather than lists what was actually done. |