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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to provide a comprehensive government response to the Committee on Climate Change UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Report 2017; if she will meet the Committee on Climate Change to discuss the contents and recommendations of that report; if she will discuss that report with other relevant departments; and if she will make a statement.

The Climate Change Risk Assessment Evidence Report published by the Committee on Climate Change on 12 July was commissioned by Defra to inform the Second UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Government Report that will be laid in Parliament in January 2017. The Government will subsequently respond to the new evidence in a second National Adaptation Programme report as soon as practicable thereafter.

Defra ministers have met and will continue to meet with members of the Committee on Climate Change and the Adaptation Sub-Committee to discuss their work, including the Climate Change Risk Assessment Evidence Report. Officials also meet regularly with members of the Committee as part of formal governance arrangements. Government departments provided input to the Evidence Report and will be closely involved in the preparation of the Government Report and, subsequently, the National Adaptation Programme.