Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has been made of the merits of sending cold weather clothing and equipment currently being sold by the Ministry of Defence for £1 an object to allies in the Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK MOD provides military equipment and capabilities in response to formal requests from the Government of Ukraine. The UK MOD focuses its spend on the highest priority capability areas to meet Ukraine's urgent operational requirements.
To date, the UK has provided over 45,000 cold weather items to Ukraine.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what changes her Department has made or plans to make to the New Hospitals Programme as a result of the fall in projected capital spending in Budget 2026 compared to Budget 2025, including changes to specific projects, their timelines and scope.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member and the Rt Hon. Member to the answer provided on 3 November in response to Question 39071.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps have been taken to ensure that large Agri-businesses are considering their impact on the environment, rural roads, ground water, streams and rivers when intensifying their stocking rates.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All agribusiness developments are regulated through a variety of regimes to manage impact on local areas and the environment including the Town Countryside and Planning Act, Environmental Permitting Regulations and protections from diffuse pollution. The Farming Roadmap and Land Use Framework also reinforce the Government's expectation that productivity and sustainability should be pursued together.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether the Knockin telescope will continue to operate as part of the e-Merlin network.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Knockin telescope and the Jodrell Bank Observatory, from which the e-MERLIN telescope network is operated, are part of the University of Manchester’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) funding for e-MERLIN remains in place until 31 March 2028, but is not planned to continue beyond this date.
Decisions on the future operation of Knockin, including whether it continues as part of e-MERLIN, are therefore for the University as owner and operator. The University of Manchester is exploring alternative funding arrangements. The Department and wider government are supporting those efforts.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Autumn Budget 2026 and the Defence Investment Plan, what capital reallocation she has agreed for her Department for each year of the spending review period, and whether projects have been cancelled as a result.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department’s contribution to the Defence Investment Plan will avoid any impact on the delivery of frontline NHS services, patient safety, investment in technology, or the New Hospital Programme (NHP). We remain fully committed to delivering all 46 hospitals in the NHP, including the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete replacement hospitals, and no projects within the programme will be delayed as a result of the Budget announcements.
Large capital programmes are designed to be flexible because projects develop at different speeds and funding needs change over time. That flexibility means that we can redeploy some funding from NHS capital projects to the Defence Investment Plan without affecting their overall delivery. The NHS continues to benefit from record levels of capital investment, and we are reforming how these projects are delivered by cutting red tape, speeding up approvals and giving local leaders more freedom to initiate their own plans.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 2026 Budget, what representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on her Department's capital allocation.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department’s contribution to the Defence Investment Plan will avoid any impact on the delivery of frontline NHS services, patient safety, investment in technology, or the New Hospital Programme (NHP). We remain fully committed to delivering all 46 hospitals in the NHP, including the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete replacement hospitals, and no projects within the programme will be delayed as a result of the Budget announcements.
Large capital programmes are designed to be flexible because projects develop at different speeds and funding needs change over time. That flexibility means that we can redeploy some funding from NHS capital projects to the Defence Investment Plan without affecting their overall delivery. The NHS continues to benefit from record levels of capital investment, and we are reforming how these projects are delivered by cutting red tape, speeding up approvals and giving local leaders more freedom to initiate their own plans.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 22124 on Advice and guidance services, whether her Department plans to complete the assessment of the adequacy of advice and guidance before the expansion of advice and guidance and single point of access.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has commissioned an external evaluation of Advice and Guidance and Single Point of Access processes, which will support continued safe and effective implementation, and inform improvements.
In the meantime, the National Health Service continues to expand these services to ensure that patients receive quick specialist advice and a clear next step for their care.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made a) of the resilience of the UK's nitrogen fertiliser supply, and b) of the impact of this supply on the UK's food security.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK's nitrogen fertiliser market remains resilient, with supply available through domestic production and diverse international sources. Defra continues to monitor prices, availability and global supply chains. Maintaining reliable and affordable fertiliser supplies supports agricultural production and UK food security, while work continues to strengthen longer-term fertiliser resilience.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of the nitrogen-based fertiliser used in this country is produced in the UK.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Supply of nitrogen fertiliser to the UK is competitive and the proportion that is met by domestic production varies from year to year. The UK's nitrogen supply is met by both organic materials, produced domestically, as well as inorganic fertilisers, some of which are produced domestically.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers with increasing costs of nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the impact of high fertiliser prices on farmers. The Government is reducing tariffs on certain fertilisers and working to diversify future supply. Defra supports farmers to reduce costs by making more efficient use of mineral and organic nutrients, including through its Nutrient Management Planning Tool.