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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve strategic decision-making to help prevent and manage wildfire risks.

The scale and severity of this summer’s wildfires has demonstrated that strategic decision making across Government departments and public bodies is critical on wildfire. Wildfire risk is increasing due to climate change, which is why it is already part of the shared National Risk Register.

The Government is preparing for future wildfire seasons by strengthening coordination across Government, working closely with fire and rescue services, land managers and local authorities, and improving our understanding of risk. Defra is working closely with MHCLG to inform cross Government action.