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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ways in which artificial intelligence technologies can be used to predict, and plan resourcing for managing, natural disasters.

Defra is the Lead Government Department in England with risk ownership for air quality, drought and flooding hazards. MHCLG lead on earthquake and wildfire hazards. The Met Office lead on storms, high temperatures, heatwaves, cold temperatures, snow and severe space weather hazards.

Defra is keen to make use of Artificial Intelligence to improve its capability to reduce harm from natural hazards. Defra is upskilling staff members to make appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence and will be examining how to strengthen its resilience capabilities.