Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has designated additional financial support in this financial year for the mitigation of the potential impact of heatwaves on the economy.

The Government is working to develop a third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3), due for publication later this year, that addresses all 61 risks and opportunities identified in last year’s UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. Building on the policies and actions outlined in the Second National Adaptation Programme, NAP3 will update on the Government’s plans to address risks arising from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events, including higher temperatures and heatwaves.

Using the policies and processes already in place to manage challenges posed by adverse weather events, Departments across Government worked to respond to last year’s heatwave, including as part of the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Heatwave Plan for England.

The UKHSA has since published in April 2023 its first edition of the new Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) to help prepare for, plan, and respond effectively to adverse weather events, and protect the population from the health effects of extreme heat. The UKHSA has also implemented a heat-health alert system, which went live earlier this month.