Business of the House

Katrina Murray Excerpts

Thursday 1st May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Katrina Murray (Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch) (Lab)]

In the past few weeks, Cumbernauld has had two significant fires: a wildfire at Fannyside loch, which took two days to get under control—the night sky glowing orange from the flames was visible 10 miles away in Glasgow—and a very different fire in a Lenziemill industrial estate unit, where there were a number of explosions and six people were injured. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking all the firefighters involved in tackling the blazes, and might we have a debate in Government time on the increasing danger of wildfires in our changing climate?

[Lucy Powell]

That is a relevant question given the one that came before about the Climate Change Committee report published this week. I join my hon. Friend in thanking the Scottish fire and rescue service. Yes, in winter the danger is perhaps flooding, but these fires and wildfires are a stark reminder that, as we enter the summer months, wildfires are one of the symptoms of climate change, and we need to support our fire and rescue services in tackling those issues, as well as take long-term steps to reduce and minimise the impacts of wildfires.