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Written Question
Babies and Pregnancy: Weather
Thursday 19th March 2026

Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on incorporating (a) evidence on the maternal and neonatal risks from extreme heat and (b) measures to protect pregnant people and infants during heatwaves into the UK’s National Adaptation Programme.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working across Government to reset the climate adaptation framework and safeguard people, livelihoods, and the natural environment. Defra is setting stronger objectives and improving governance and monitoring, to help the Government turn evidence into action.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)recognise there are risks to pregnant women caused by exposure to extreme high temperatures, set out in the Adverse Weather and Health Plan Equity Review and Impact Assessment 2024. This includes an assessment on stillbirth, pre-term birth and maternal health complications.

UKHSA provides a weather-health alerting system for England, which alerts the public (including specific vulnerable groups such as pregnant women) and public sector organisations to prepare for impacts of adverse weather, including high temperatures. Risks to health are communicated via heat-health alerts.

Division Vote (Commons)
18 Mar 2026 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 276 Labour Aye votes vs 19 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 98
Division Vote (Commons)
18 Mar 2026 - Employment Rights: Investigatory Powers - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 301 Labour Aye votes vs 1 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 368 Noes - 107
Division Vote (Commons)
18 Mar 2026 - Student Loans - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 262 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 88 Noes - 266
Division Vote (Commons)
18 Mar 2026 - Fuel Duty - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 252 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 259
Division Vote (Commons)
17 Mar 2026 - Draft Contracts for Difference (Sustainable Industry Rewards and Contract Budget Notice Amendments) Regulations 2026 - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 11 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 12 Noes - 1
Written Question
High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention
Friday 13th March 2026

Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to review the statutory height threshold for a higher-risk building under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 17 December 2025, the Department published the results of the Buildings Safety Regulator’s initial review of the definition of higher-risk buildings and its plans for an ongoing review. The initial review found that, at the time of publication, the current definition (including the height-threshold) appropriately reflects the available evidence on risks to individuals from the spread of fire and structural failure.

Going forward, we have agreed that the Building Safety Regulator will, at least once a year, consider whether the definition of higher-risk buildings remains appropriate. The next review will take place in, or before, summer 2026.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 11 Mar 2026
Protest Policing

"I represent the area affected by the Home Secretary’s intervention on public order policing, which I welcome. I listened carefully to her statement, which made it clear that this prohibition is specific, discrete and focused. What I heard was a balancing of the challenges that she and public order policing …..."
Rachel Blake - View Speech

View all Rachel Blake (LAB - Cities of London and Westminster) contributions to the debate on: Protest Policing
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 11 Mar 2026
Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion

"The statement has truly been sickening. Does the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister agree that the sickening behaviour and conduct of Mandelson is in part a symptom of structural misogyny? Will he use his office to drive structural misogyny out of Whitehall and Westminster?..."
Rachel Blake - View Speech

View all Rachel Blake (LAB - Cities of London and Westminster) contributions to the debate on: Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion
Division Vote (Commons)
10 Mar 2026 - Courts and Tribunals Bill - View Vote Context
Rachel Blake (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 301 Labour Aye votes vs 10 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 304 Noes - 203