Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
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 inform hon. Members on plans to reform permitted development rights for on-farm reservoirs.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have committed to review evidence on the effectiveness of current permitted development rights for on-farm reservoirs. We are working with farmers and industry representatives, including the National Farmers’ Union and Country Land and Business Association, to gather and assess this evidence. Any decisions on reforms to permitted development rights will be announced once this work is complete.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the impact on residents of existing multi-dwelling developments where telecommunications operators have determined that full fibre deployment is not commercially viable; and whether she plans to introduce further regulatory powers, financial support or infrastructure assistance to address engineering barriers and secure access to gigabit-capable broadband for affected residents.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to ensuring at least 99% of premises have gigabit broadband coverage by 2032. As of January 2026, Ofcom reports that 88% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable connection. Through Project Gigabit, we are targeting Government funding at areas where commercial deployment is unlikely, supporting delivery of this target.
As confirmed in the King’s Speech, following a consultation on legislative proposals for broadband rollout in leasehold flats, measures to improve access will be taken forward in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of variation between local planning authorities in the charging of Community Infrastructure Levy on agricultural buildings.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of trends in the level of variation between local planning authorities in the charging of Community Infrastructure Levy on agricultural buildings.
Relevant Planning Practice Guidance, which can be found on gov.uk here, makes clear that charging authorities must keep their charging schedules under review and should ensure that levy charges remain appropriate over time.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review the application of Community Infrastructure Levy to agricultural buildings.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no specific assessment of trends in the level of variation between local planning authorities in the charging of Community Infrastructure Levy on agricultural buildings.
Relevant Planning Practice Guidance, which can be found on gov.uk here, makes clear that charging authorities must keep their charging schedules under review and should ensure that levy charges remain appropriate over time.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support NHS hospitals to provide safe and appropriate care for people with severe and very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis while the development of specialised services remains under consideration.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 16 July to Question 16893 and on 15 September to Question 21290, the Department, together with NHS England, has developed a template service specification for mild, moderate, and severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The template, once published, will be circulated to integrated care boards to support the commissioning of services for severe ME/CFS.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when a decision will be made on whether to commission a specialised service for people with very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis as laid out in the ME/CFS Delivery Plan.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answers provided on 16 July to Question 16893 and on 15 September to Question 21290, the Department, together with NHS England, has developed a template service specification for mild, moderate, and severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The template, once published, will be circulated to integrated care boards to support the commissioning of services for severe ME/CFS.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the national template service specification for mild, moderate and severe ME/CFS will be published and what steps will be taken to support its implementation by integrated care boards.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 19 October 2026 to the identical questions 34398 and 34320 received from other colleagues earlier this month.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure ME/CFS training for healthcare professionals remains available once NHS England is abolished.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 19 October 2026 to the identical questions 34398 and 34320 received from other colleagues earlier this month.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on including food production in the Energy Intensive Industries Exemption Scheme.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State regularly engages with Cabinet colleagues on matters affecting the competitiveness and resilience of the UK’s food and farming sectors, including the impact of energy costs. Defra continues to work across Government to ensure the needs of energy-intensive food production businesses are understood and considered as part of wider discussions on industrial energy support.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Horsham.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The specific data requested by the Hon. Member is not centrally held, but he may find useful information on the prevalence and treatment of respiratory conditions in his local area at the Department’s Fingertips website, at the following link:
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profiles