International Climate Action

James Gray Excerpts

Thursday 26th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. I have not yet discussed that with the Secretary of State for Education, but I certainly will make a point of doing so.

[James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con)]

rose—

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

rose—

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

No, no. The last time I looked, the hon. Gentleman was called Luke Graham, not James Gray.

[James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con)]

It is an easy mistake to make, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire is a few years younger.

[James Gray]

Yes, but I was brought up in Ochil and South Perthshire, so we have a great deal in common, although there is a slight age difference.

One way in which the UK can truly lead the world in this generational battle against climate change is through climate science, in particular polar science. In that respect, I pay tribute to the father of the hon. Member for Cardiff North (Anna McMorrin), after whom the McMorrin glacier in Antarctica is named. Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State join me in congratulating British scientists in universities and institutions throughout Britain, who make a vast contribution to polar and climate science, and will she, today of all days, pay tribute to the launch of SS David Attenborough from Birkenhead and perhaps make passing tribute to the great man himself?

[Andrea Leadsom]

Yes, the RSS David Attenborough—“Boaty McBoatface”—is launching today. I am always delighted to pay tribute to David Attenborough, whose series on Earth and our oceans have brought home to so many people the urgent need for action. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for North Wiltshire (James Gray), himself a bit of an Arctic explorer who has done a great deal to highlight climate change, and we should be grateful to him for that.