Strengthening Community Resilience

Debate between Adam Dance and Dan Jarvis

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis]

The Chair of the Select Committee raises an important point, which I know was discussed at the Prime Minister’s inaugural wildfire summit just last week. It is absolutely on the Prime Minister’s mind and it has been raised with me on a number of occasions at a local level. I know that colleagues in other Departments are looking, along with my own Department, at what more we can do.

[Adam Dance (Yeovil) (LD)]

Flooding in Somerset is a huge issue. One of the care homes in my constituency flooded last year within seconds. Yes, the Government have given Somerset a lot more money towards tackling flooding, but that does not go far enough. What else can the Government do to support rural Somerset in being ready for flooding this year?

[Dan Jarvis]

I understand why the hon. Gentleman will want to raise concerns about his own area; that is absolutely his responsibility. He will, I hope, have heard the comments I made earlier about the amount of money that has been invested in flood defences. These are matters that we take incredibly seriously. I know, as a former metro mayor, the importance of issues relating to flooding and of working across local authority boundaries to make sure that, along with the Environment Agency and water companies, we have a proper response and a proper defensive posture is put in place. I discuss the matter regularly with my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific concerns, or anything specific that he would like us to look at, I would be very happy to do that on his behalf.

Defence Investment Plan

Debate between Adam Dance and Dan Jarvis

Tuesday 30th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis]

Yes, we would be very happy to do that.

[Adam Dance (Yeovil) (LD)]

Page 68 of the DIP makes clear that Proteus, being developed at Leonardo in Yeovil, will be key to future warfare, but lots of other SMEs doing cutting-edge defence work in Yeovil tell me that their hiring and investment decisions have been trapped in limbo by delays to this plan. What reassurance can the Secretary of State give Yeovil’s other defence SMEs that the MOD actually has the money to back the research and development of advanced defence kit by Yeovil’s defence sector?

[Dan Jarvis]

The hon. Gentleman’s constituency has very long-standing defence interests, and of course we will want to work closely with him in that regard. I think he will acknowledge that there was £1 billion of investment in new medium helicopters and other capabilities, but given his interest as the local MP, I would be very happy to discuss it with him further.