Australian Bushfires

Steve Baker Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Wheeler]

The hon. Lady asks a very intelligent question. The answer is that I cannot give her that assurance right now. We have green finance deals and ocean deals. We are so committed to helping countries around the world to move on to renewable energy projects, and I think that is the way forward.

[Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)]

Congratulations on your return to the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker.

I strongly welcome the UK Government’s enduring commitment to support Australia, but will my hon. Friend tell us for specifically how long the experts who are currently there plan to remain in the country?

[Mrs Wheeler]

It is my pleasure to try to answer my hon. Friend. They are there for a five-day period, meeting all the experts in the region with three sessions covering the three different areas that they are visiting. They will then do a rapid assessment of the assistance that Australia is asking for, and we are ready to assist in any way we can.