Ministerial Statement: Cairngorms Wildfire - 03 September 2026

answers. Question time. The next item of business is a statement by Neil Gray on Ken Gro's Kieran Gorm's wildfire. Questions will be taken at the end of the statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. I call on Neil Gray. >> Presiding officer. >> Presiding officer. Let me begin by thanking every single person and organization that worked tirelessly to tackle and extinguish the recent wildfire in the Kieran Gorms National Park. I'm hugely appreciative of their work, commitment, and efforts in demanding, challenging, and changing circumstances. I commend and I'm grateful for the outstanding efforts of more than 500 firefighters and staff of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, other emergency responders, land owners, gamekeepers, volunteers, forestry and land Scotland, the Kieran Gorman National Park, Nature Scot and the RSP, as well as many other volunteers involved. I would also like to give special mention to those volunteers who gave up their time to help fight the fire or support those who were. Let me also thank all the people and communities in and around the Abernathy area who provided support to the response effort and those on the front line and the residents of Netti Bridge who supported one another during evacuation. There is no doubt this wildfire was a challenging incident for the various responders involved. And I'm grateful that while no lives were lost and property was protected, the fire caused significant damage and has had a significant impact on people, on businesses, on communities, and on the natural environment and wildlife. I know that this fire was devastating for business and that it had to close in the area and at a time that is crucial to them. That is why we've provided3 million pounds to directly support businesses affected and support the longerterm economic recovery of the area to be delivered by Helen Council which will lead on the longerterm recovery of the area with partners including the Scottish government. We all want to see this significant region of our country recover and flourish. Presiding officer, I want to assure Parliament of the seriousness with which this fire was taken within government. From the outset, I was in very regular communication with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service throughout the duration of the fire. Scotch Fire and Rescue Service provided consistent reassurance that its response was resourced appropriately and proportionately with operational activity continually reviewed to ensure the response was uh remained suitable for the scale and nature of the incident. But let me be clear that the SFRS as our national fire service has the statutory responsibility to lead the response to deal with fires wherever and whenever they occur and are experts in doing so. SFRS attend wildfires frequently and have recorded 58 so far this year. Thankfully, most are quickly extinguished. There has been a range of commentary about what could have been done differently and what lessons have could be learned. And it is important that we reflect on concerns that people have raised. As part of this, we there will be a multi- agency review and debrief to examine the specific circumstances of this incident and capture learning, including how SFRS can work more effectively with partner organizations, with land owners and volunteers. And I'm keen that this review is as inclusive as possible and includes a range of local interests as well as public agencies. That work is in addition to the urgent review of the government's strategic action plan on wildfires which sets out a coordinated approach through 18 actions across the three pillars of prevention, preparedness, and response. I want to ensure that we are taking the appropriate pace and scale of action that is needed in light of the increasing risks that we face. Presiding officer, I'm also aware that throughout the wildfire, partner or partner knowledge, specialist capability, local expertise was crucial to help bring this fire to a conclusion. I know some of the local community felt their voices were not listened to. This has reinforced the need for clear communication and importantly engagement with local residents, land owners, and businesses during significant incidents. The SFRS and the Scottish Resilience Partnership are already considering these issues. A new concept of operations was put in place earlier this year to guide SFRS and other emergency services in working effectively with land owners and other partners when dealing with significant scale wildfires. The Kong Gorms wildfire was one of the first major tests of its use and the operational review will consider how this has worked, what learning needs to be incorporated. So I would expect a revised uh uh uh update concept of operations to be in place and to be properly tested and exercised ahead of the next wildfire season. Presiding officer, of course, the best solution is to stop wildfires happening in the first place. Some significant steps have already been taken to, for example, ban disposable barbecues and other open fires in the Kang Gorms National Park and SFRS issues wildfire danger assessments when risks are particularly high. I also welcome the steps the UK government has taken to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues across the UK. This is something I believe needs to be considered on a more permanent basis when there is a risk of wildfires. The review will consider the land management practices that are required to prevent and hinder the spread of wildfires. And the strategic plan already contains a number of actions to support this, including new tools for wildfire prevention and management that have been introduced through the implementation of the natural environment Scotland act, including new fixed penalty notice powers to help enforce fire management bylaws in Kangor's National Park. We will work with land managers to consider the appropriate wildfire mitigation measures which may include vegetation management, maintenance of access tracks, fire brakes, and water access points. As part of the review, we're also examining how we can significantly improve public information ahead of the next wildfire season. This will involve a combination of preventative public communications and an enhanced system of wildfire danger assessments. Presiding officer, it's also clear that if we are to face an increase in risk of wildfires, we need to consider an increase in aerial support, which is an important resource in tackling wildfires, particularly in areas where access and terrain are difficult. Operational commanders have made clear that it is not a silver bullet which immediately extinguishes every fire as soon as it is deployed. It is most effective in combination with a properly resourced ground attack. However, it is a matter of record that helicopters helicopter firefighting assets were not available at the beginning of this wildfire and only came on site within around 36 hours after the start of the incident. They were then used extensively throughout different phases of the incident when they were available and when they could make an active contribution to the response effort. The current system of aerial support is provided by commercial contractors and I pay particular tribute to the skills and commitment of those pilots and operators as well as to those companies. There were times during the wildfire when additional aerial water bombing would have been helpful to supplement the resources already being provided by commercial operators under contract. This is why we requested military assistance for this specific purpose at the request of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Although we had been a aware informally that the UK military did not have such assets in the UK, the position we were in was one of exploring every option to put the required support in place. I believe then and I believe now that it was right to put that request to the UK government formally to allow them to explore every option for what was possible, including repatriating any assets based overseas. The current contracting model is a complex process involving landowners purchasing support which is then directed by the SFRS incident commander. Availability can vary as these contractors also have a range of other commitments using the same assets. Indeed, the reality that we faced in this instance was that some of the helicopters were already committed on fighting a wildfire elsewhere. The challenge of aerial support availability is not restricted to Scotland as there is a lack of capacity across the whole of the UK. I believe that fire and rescue services in England and Wales responded to 342 wildfires in the first six months of 2026 alone, including one in Darbasher that burned for well over a month and a serious one in Oldm that destroyed hundreds of acres of Murland. We need to improve on the current arrangements before the start of the next wildfire season. So pro presiding officer, I can announce today uh that uh Scotch Fire and Rescue Service will be in a position to put helicopter resources on standby as soon as the wildfire danger assessment process indicates a need to do so and now have the ability to immediately mobilize these assets directly in support of firefighting operations. This is not a complete solution, but it is a meaningful improvement on the current situation. We're also commencing work immediately to improve uh aerial support availability, including options for four nations collaboration and military support. To conclude, presiding officer, wildfires are no longer a seasonal hazard. They're a direct impact of climate change, which is fueling an increase in both the frequency and severity of wildfires. As everyone is aware, there has been extreme weather across the world this year, and wildfires were a feature across many European countries this summer with incredibly devastating impacts. Whilst I'm thankful we did not see the loss of life and property that was experienced in tragically in France and Spain which caused huge devastation and economic loss, there is no doubt that the Karen Gorms wildfire caused huge damage. The change in climate and countries across the world that countries across the world are having to deal with will increase the risk of significant wildfires with the devastating impact they have on our communities, local ecology and on businesses and livelihoods. So the work we are taking forward with stakeholders and partners will ensure that we are prepared to face these new challenges and risks. As our climate becomes warmer and drier and extreme weather patterns intensify, Scotland must strengthen its resilience and its ability to prevent, prepare for and respond to wildfire events and that is exactly what we will do. >> Thank you Cabinet Secretary. Um I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions. We have a large number of members who wish to ask a question. So concise questions and answers would be helpful. H can I also ask all members who wish to ask a question to press the request speak buttons now and I call firstly Victor Curry. >> Thank you deputy presiding officer. I'm grateful to the cabinet secretary for providing advanced sight of his statement and for the daily updates he provided to me during this incident for cascade onto concerned constituents. Deputy presiding officer, I believe that an ounce of prevention is far better than a pound of cure in common with the cabinet secretary's statement. The cabinet secretary has announced3 million pounds to help communities and businesses recover from the severe impact of this summer's wildfires. Yet over the period from 2023 to 2026, just 1.6 million was allocated allocated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for dedicated wildfire capability. Support for communities after such events is of course essential. However, that disparity raises serious questions about whether the SNP government is placing enough emphasis on prevention and operational capability rather than simply funding recovery once the damage has been done. Communities across the Highlands are directly exposed to the growing threat of wildfire. They need credible support before the fire takes hold, not just assistance after land, property and could get to your question at risk. of course, deputy presiding officer. So, will the cabinet secretary explain how the government expects to deliver a robust national wildfire strategy when frontline emergency response appears to receive less dedicated funding than post incident community recovery and what monetary allocation will be provided to wildfire fighting equipment to keep Highland communities safe? >> Secretary, >> thank you, presenting officer. appreciate um the fact that the updates that my office and I were providing to Mr. Curry were useful for him in disseminating to his constituents. Um in terms of the uh the support for capability as well as as recovery u I already set out um in uh my statement around uh the work that's being carried out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to expand its capability and indeed what the government is looking to do around aerial capability. That is not the end of the story. There is more work to be done through the reviews around whether there is further capability requirements. He asked a very direct question around uh access to equipment and the 1.6 million that has been made available to the Scottish fire and rescue service has allowed for the purchase of addition additional allterrain uh vehicles for the purchase of fogging units for support vans uh for specialist PPE for wildfire equipment uh and uh further all-terrain trailers. So, we will keep under review any further requests that would come through in order to make sure that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is appropriately uh uh resourced to be able to respond to this changing need. >> Can I call Polly McNeel to be followed by Laura Mitchell? >> Scottish Labor welcomes the review of the response to wildfires. The Kangorn wildfire lasted longer and spread further than it needed to because the fire service did not have enough of the equipment that they needed. Scottish firefighters and volunteers put in heroic shifts to contain and extinguish these fires. But they were working beyond the point of exhaustion supported by critical crewing levels in control rooms and drawing resources away from other regions as Scotland. In fact, the fire brigade union have long warned that the service needs to be properly equipped for threats due to climate change. But the loss of,239 firefighters since 2012 and the crisis in the retained duty system is pushing the service to breaking point. Currently, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have 200 of the 311 retained duty system appliances unavailable due to insufficient available retained duty system crew numbers. Can I ask the cabinet secretary in relation to his statement, where were the helicopter standby come from and what assessment has been undertaken regarding the suitability of this crewing arrangement for these specialist resources and the risk that they may be unavailable due to crewing shortages on any given day. >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, there are a number of points in Paulie McNeel's um question there that I wish to address. First of all, in terms of the increased access to aerial support that at the first instance will continue to come from commercial operators and um we want to make sure that their availability is there from the moment that the high risk of wildfire warnings come into play to ensure that we're in a better position for their availability as early as possible. Um I think it's uh I I don't think it's right for Paulie McNeel to say that the Scotch Fire and Rescue Service is anything other than what they needed. Um, she's suggesting that this fire burned because they didn't have access to what they needed throughout the wildfire. As I said in my statement, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service chief officers tell me directly that they had appropriate resourcing. However, that's not to say um that we can't uh do more. Um, she also suggested that drawing resources from other parts of Scotland uh was a negative. actually what they were doing was able to draw on resources from other parts of the country as is the benefit of having a national fire service with experience of fighting wildfires which is which is actually to the credit of us having a national service and I think the discussions that I've had recently with the FBU and with the um and with SFRS uh we can contrast that with the capability and response that's been available in other parts of the United Kingdom uh through recent wildfires. So of course the points that she's raising around capability and resourcing are points that we will continue to consider. >> Call Laura Mitchell to be followed by Ariana Burgess. As mentioned in the cabinet secretary's statement, the UK military does not possess any helicopters with water bombing capabilities in the UK. Given the prevalence of wildfires across the UK this summer, does the Scottish government intend to engage with the UK government to robustly make the case that the mod needs to acquire these capabilities as a matter of urgency? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, yes, it does. And and yes, I will. I think I've pointed out the areas where we're looking to provide the necessary resilience in a Scottish resp response that I know Laura Mitchell is is interested in given our constituency interests. We're looking to ensure that we have increased water bombing capability and we'll keep under review access to the likes of specialist PPE and other resources. I also think it is um uh incumbent on the UK government to uh look at the resilience posture that we have across the UK. the UK military there is there for all of us. It is our resilience fallback for many areas and I think um we will be contacting the UK government so we can open discussion on shared resources including what the military h could and should offer to us uh because of this rising risk and I know that uh stakeholders in this area are particularly interested include ensuring that the UKwide resilience posture is made much stronger. >> Thank you. call Ariana Burgess to be followed by Tim Eagle. >> Thank you, presiding officer. The Scottish Greens also welcomed the the review that the cabinet secretary's talked about, and I thank the cabinet secretary for the for his update. I particularly welcome his commitment to a foreign nation approach to aerial firefighting support, including fixed wing, which I've been calling for throughout this crisis. In terms of pre prevention, something that's essential for tackling this issue. What reassurances can the cabinet secretary give me that the Scottish government will put resources into making the landscape more resilient through nature-based solutions, including by rewetting petlands and creating wetlands? And will he convene a Scottish landscape resilience summit to ensure that there's a cross- sector multistakeholder approach to this? Cabinet Secretary >> Officer I thank Ari Burgess for her her questions. This is an area that my colleague Mr. Fairly has taken forward extensive work working with colleagues and stakeholders and land owners around ensuring that we are taking every possible step, the best possible steps uh to ensure that we are putting in place the right land management uh processes and ensure that we can use those steps uh to prevent uh wildfires happening in the first place but also then mitigate their spread if they are to take hold. >> I call Tim Eagle to be followed by Andrew Baxter. Uh thank you deputy presiding officer the Strafi which is the local paper uh which I'm sure the cabinet secretary knows has actually launched a campaign today for better aerial support and I so I welcome the cabinet secretary's message that there has been improvements there and I'm already working on a letter to him to get some of the finer detail but the cabinet secretary also mentioned his thanks to all of those volunteers the many volunteers that helped with this fire on the 18th of September at 6 pm in Avimmore many of them who I've already met are coming together to talk about what they have learned from this fire. It is essential that someone from the government is at that meeting. So if not the cabinet secretary, can the minister for agriculture or the other cabinet secretary for climate action promise to be at that meeting? >> Cabinet secretary. >> Thank you presenting officer. I thank Mr. Eagle for uh his question after him raising it on Tuesday night. I'm already exploring my availability potentially whether that is um remote participation for that for that meeting. Uh I'm keen as I know other ministers are to be able to hear directly from uh stakeholders as part of this review to make sure that it is multi- agency that everybody is able to feed into uh this process so that we can make sure that the wildfire strategy and its 18 recommendations. We're moving as fast as possible. We have the right areas that we need to focus in on. Uh and I hope he can get a sense from my statement from the action that we have taken forward not just myself but Mr. Fairley has a long experience in this area. um is the right area that we can explore and that we can work collectively to achieve a better place in preventing wildfires happening in the first place and then spreading. >> I call Andrew Baxter to be followed by Emma Rodic. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. And first of all, may I associate myself with the cabinet secretaries thanks to all of those both firefighters and volunteers that tackled the wildfire within my constituency. And also welcome the cabinet secretary's announcement about area aerial capability, which is a significant um step uh forward. This morning, a retained firefighter deployed to the Canorms told me they worked 13-hour shifts without suitable wildfire PPE with kits so heavy and hot they ended up fighting the fire at times in their t-shirt. When I asked whether the fire service was adequately resourced for wildfires, their answer was simply no. Why should parliament accept minister's assurances that resources were adequate when that is not the experience of firefighters on the front line? >> Cabinet secretary officer um I I thank Mr. Baxter for his question. I was receiving um live um commentary and representation from the likes of Laura Mitchell from Emma as to the situation with regards to PPE. Um I was passing that on to the chief fire officer uh who has a responsibility for ensuring uh that uh those fighting the fires are are uh properly resourced. Um I've already pointed out that part of the resource that uh has been given to Scotch Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that it has the necessary resources to tackle the wildfires. A significant number of specialist wildfire PP 400 sets at cost of £300,000 have been purchased. Uh but this is an area that we keep under review as part of the discussions with the Scottish fire Scottish fire and rescue service. >> I call Emirodic to be followed by Max Bannerman. >> Thank you, presiding officer. I'm relieved to hear that provisions to allow bylaws to be brought forward by local authorities will commence next month and that the cabinet secretary has said he'll work with the UK government on restricting the sale of disposable barbecues and on air support. However, for those of us with experience waiting months for answers from UK ministers, a little more reassurance might be useful. So, can you go into any more detail on what that engagement will look like and how the Scottish government will ensure that action is taken here wherever possible and as quickly as possible to protect people, businesses, and the environment in Scotland. >> Presiding officer, thank I thank Emiric for her questions. I think particularly when we are engaging with UK ministers I and I've given this commitment to stakeholders that where they are asking me to get the UK government to move faster on particular issues. I want to make sure that this is done in a constructive way not in a political way. Um I don't want this to become a constitutional issue. This is about ensuring the necessary resilience posture for the entire UK in response to an issue that has no borders. is one that is facing all of us because of the climate emergency and uh I will take forward my representations to UK ministers in that vein. However, I would also expect given the very significant challenges that have been faced in other parts of the UK with regards to wildfires that this work would already be underway in White Hall. >> Call Max Bannerman to be followed by Jackie Denar. The cabinet secretary says that Scottish fire and rescue service will be in a position to put firefighting helicopter assets on standby as soon as they are assessed as needed. I want to press him on the detail of that. Can he tell me if that means as of today helicopter is guaranteed to be available immediately when requests on standby under this policy or if we are still dependent on it not being hired by someone else. I think people in stress bay deserve an answer to that urgent question. Presiding officer, I've said very clearly that when the wildfire risk is heightened from that moment, the Scotch Fan Rescue Service uh will h be able to use the contractual frameworks that are in place with commercial suppliers in order to ensure that um commercial commercially operated uh uh aerial uh support for tackling wildfires will be on standby. >> Jackie Dar to be followed by Donald McKinnon. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Disposable barbecues will continue to be a major problem for as long as they're available for purchase. They can reach temperatures of up to 450 degrees. They stay hot for many hours after you think they're out. H and that heat goes straight into dry soil, grass, or underground creek. Convenience should never come before the safety of our countryside, our wildlife, our communities, and of course our our emergency services and our volunteers. Will the cabinet secretary call on the UK government to take the necessary decisive action to remove this hazard by permanently banning disposable barbecues? >> Cabinet Secretary >> Presiding Officer, I thank Jackie Dumbar for her her questions. I welcome the steps that were taken during the summer by the UK government in in response to the wildfires that were being faced in in England to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues across the UK given the risk that they can pose to the environment, local communities and agricultural land, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather when the risk of wildfire is is heightened. But there is also a risk in other areas including beaches and parks and Mlands and and I do believe there needs to be a consideration of this issue on a more permanent basis when there is a high risk of wildfires and a more permanent approach would provide greater protection for communities and environment and also provide greater consistency for members of the public in understanding how they can ensure they can act with uh due responsibility um uh whilst out enjoying our natural environment. >> Thank you Cabinet Secretary. to a large number of members still wanting to come in, but I call Donald McKinnon to be followed by Fulton McGregor. >> Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I draw members attention to my entry in the register of interest. I'm a member of the fire brigades union. Um alongside gamekeepers, farmers, coffters, foresters, and conservation workers, retained firefighters were at the forefront of dealing with the Karen wildfire as we have heard so much of today. What discussions has the cabinet secretary had with the Scottish fire and rescue service about the crisis in recruitment in the retained duty system and will the cabinet secretary ensure that capacity within the retained duty system will form part of the review he has just announced? >> Cabinet secretary >> presiding officer I I thank Mr. McKinnon and I recognize his significant interest given his experience. Um, and these are issues that I have, as I said earlier in the week, I I had um had raised with me when I was um on visits in Mr. MacArthur's constituency in Orcne and they've had challenges with recruiting uh retained firefighters in some of the northern Isles. Um I want to get the balance right and I think it's important that we as as I'm sure he would in ensuring that we have uh people on the return firefighter roster that have the requisite training. So the standards are high. Uh but also recognize that for many in the communities that he represents um that uh those that are helping to ensure the communities can continue to function wear many hats. And so this is an issue that I continue to speak to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service around how we can ensure we get that balance right. >> Fton McGregor to be followed by Maggie Chapman. >> Thanks presiding officer. While wildfires are becoming a highly unwelcome occurrence in Scotland, many countries have been combating them for a number of years. Can I therefore ask the cabinet secretary how the Scottish government is seeking to learn and engage with practitioners and governments in more historically affected parts of the world where we may expect them. >> Cabinet secretary >> presiding officer Mr. McGregor is is absolutely right and I I wish to give them that reassurance that we are uh looking beyond Scotland. Uh it includes engagement with practitioners wildlife networks across the UK and internationally including examples from countries like Canada and the United States where wildfire management, community preparedness and integrated fire management are more developed than they are here in the UK. We are already uh seeing practical examples of this being reflected in our approach including work around wildfire danger assessments and alerting and rural urban interface mapping, community resilience models, integrated fire management and the data and mapping around tactical burning. >> Maggie Chapton to be followed by car. >> Thank you. Fighting a wildfire is different to tackling a building fire. Different equipment and welfare requirements, different command and coordination complexities. Three years ago, the FBE report Scorched Firefighters and resilience to wild wildfires pointed out a whole series of concerns. Sun exposure, overong shifts in challenging terrain, lack of suitable PPE despite well understood fire effluent risks, training gaps, shortage of welfare facilities, and many firefighters respond to wildfires from retained duty system stations that face crew and appliance shortages. What measures have been put in place to safeguard the health and well-being of our firefighters to mitigate exposures and allow them to shower within the hour and reduce cumulative exposure at large-scale protracted wildfire incidents? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> I very much appreciate the points that Miss Chapman has raised and and again these were points that were raised during the debate on Tuesday evening uh around decontamination in particular. Um these are uh areas that we are investing in and supporting uh the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to invest in the likes of additional uh wildfire uh specialist PPE. Um and in terms of facilities available to uh the um uh firefighters. Uh this is u part of uh the uh issues that are under consideration around u the uh review that was carried out by the Scottish Fire Rescue Service around its infrastructure. Uh and I will continue to be talking to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service around its resource demands in that area. >> I call Karen Adam to be followed by Liam Care. Thank you, presiding officer. There can be little doubt now that Scotland is facing a serious and escalating threat from wildfires. What is the Scottish government's latest assessment of how vulnerable our landscapes, communities, and infrastructure have become to this aspect of a changing climate? Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, there there have been 58 wildfires um in Scotland so far this year, and we experienced our worst uh season for wildfires in recent memories in 2025 with 241 recorded wildfires, including the UK's largest uh in Carbridge and Davamur that burned nearly 10,000 hectares. So, uh in terms of the impact and the risk, it is high. Um last year marked a significant escalation in wildfire frequency, intensity and impact. And climate change is increasing temperatures, extending dry spells and creating conditions in which wildfires can ignite and spread more easily. particularly in uh Scotland's petlands, woodlands, and rural landscapes. But as we've seen in England and Wales, across the board, as our climate becomes warmer and drier, and as extreme weather patterns intensify, we must also strengthen our resilience, not just here in Scotland, but across the UK uh to ensure we have the ability to prevent, prepare, and uh respond to wildfire events. And that's why I've commissioned the review that I have. It's why I'll be working with partners here in Scotland as well as with partners across the four nations to ensure our response is commensurate. >> Sir, uh the cabinet secretary talked about the importance of aerial support and acknowledged the lack of capacity. But this was a known issue. You see, in March, the government published a wildfire action plan which explicitly highlighted the lack of availability of helicopters. And on the 25th of July, four months later, as the fires raged, the fire service told the government they needed but didn't have four aerial firefighting assets. So, cabinet secretary, did they get them? And if so, how soon following that request? >> Cabinet Secretary, >> presiding officer, I think it's well acknowledged that this is not an issue that is isolated to us here in Scotland. We were seeking to draw on the same commercial assets that were sought to be drawn on in other parts of the United Kingdom. So this is why it's not just me that is suggesting we need to have a better foreign nations posture on this issue. This is what our land managers are asking for as well. Which is why we are seeking to build our own domestic resilience. That's the announcement that I've made today. But also why I'll be working on a foreign nations basis with other ministers to ensure that our to ensure Mr. occur that our uh posture our resilience posture is commensurate with the risks that we are now facing. >> That concludes our ministerial statement on Kieran Gorm's wildfire. Uh we now move to the next item of business. I'll give a few more ws