Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts
Thursday 22nd June 2023

(10 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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My hon. Friend is right to highlight the matter. The situation is precisely why we rolled out the new heat health alerting service in conjunction with the Met Office on 1 June. As climate change continues, we are developing cross-Government working to ensure that we are resilient to the new challenges.

Martyn Day Portrait Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)
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It is not just red-headed, fair-skinned folk like me who suffer during the UK’s increasing heatwaves. I note with envy that, across Europe, many countries have introduced maximum workplace temperatures, and I wonder whether this country could do the same. Will the Minister look at implementing such a scheme?

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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I am very sceptical about adding further regulatory burdens to business. I think most businesses are incentivised to make sure their employees have a safe and appropriately cooled place to work, which is the appropriate way to proceed. However, we are working across Government, and through things such as local resilience fora, to make sure businesses are properly advised on the appropriate steps to take.