Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the commitment in HCWS1444 to consult on the Smart Export Guarantee, what assessment he has made of cases where households with existing FiT-registered solar installations cannot obtain an export mPAN due to distribution network operator infrastructure constraints; and whether the consultation will consider the obligations of DNOs to facilitate SEG access.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that some households, including those with existing Feed-in Tariff installations, can face delays in obtaining the export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) needed to access a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff.
The forthcoming SEG review will provide an opportunity to consider evidence on how Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and supplier processes affect access to the scheme, including whether responsibilities are clearly defined and the associated arrangements operate effectively.
Wider questions concerning DNO connections processes and obligations, including the generation of export MPANs, are being considered through Ofgem’s Connections End-to-End Review.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, who will represent the UK at the Global Partnership for Education replenishment summit in New York on 23 September 2026; whether the Government intends to announce the UK's contribution to the Partnership’s 2026-30 replenishment at or in advance of the summit; and when such an announcement is expected to be made.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Our pledge to the Global Partnership for Education is subject to Treasury approval. UK representation at the event is being confirmed as part of the UK's overall United Nations General Assembly programme.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has the Government made of whether lenders' published eligibility criteria for interest-only and part-interest arrangements are attainable for borrowers in financial difficulty who are not high-net-worth individuals.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the difficulties faced by mortgage borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Financial Conduct Authority requires lenders to engage individually with customers who are struggling or worried about their payments in order to provide tailored support. This could include a term extension, a temporary switch to interest-only payments, a temporary payment deferral or part-interest, part-repayment; the right option will depend on the borrower’s circumstances.
Earlier this year, signatories also recommitted to the Mortgage Charter, which is a voluntary industry agreement that covers 90% of the mortgage market. The Charter provides additional flexibilities to help borrowers who are up-to-date with their repayments to manage their repayments over a short period.
Any borrower who is concerned about making their repayment should contact their lender. Seeking support and engaging with lenders to discuss options will not affect a borrower’s credit score in any way, and earlier engagement will mean that lenders can offer more support.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will assess the potential merits of collecting data on (i) long-term health, (ii) employment and (iii) housing outcomes of medically discharged veterans.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The government is fully committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and who have served, to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.
The government's Veterans Strategy commits to continued investment in data and insights on veterans and their experiences. This will ensure that policy is evidence based, that targeted interventions deliver the right support at the right time, and to measure the strategy’s impact.
Alongside this, the £50 million VALOUR programme will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve. VALOUR Recognised Centres, VALOUR Field Officers will gather data on the ground, while VALOUR HQ will work together with policy and research teams to analyse data and insight gathered, to ensure that services are designed to meet local needs. As the programme develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences.
For veterans in need of help, dedicated support is available to veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness through Op FORTITUDE, or for mental and physical health needs through Ops COURAGE and RESTORE. Employment support is delivered through Op ASCEND and programmes such as the Career Transition partnership. For those in contact with or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System support is available through Op NOVA.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people with learning difficulties when transitioning from children services to adult services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the challenges young people with learning difficulties and their families can face when they transition between children and adult services.
The Children and Families Act 2014 and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice require local authorities and partners to begin preparation for adulthood from Year 9 onwards through person-centred Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). Separately, the Care Act 2014 places duties on local authorities to identify young people likely to need adult care and support, coordinate with EHCP processes, and ensure continuity of support so that no young person experiences a gap in care when moving into adulthood.
We are working across Government to improve support for young people with learning difficulties as they transition to adulthood. The Government’s SEND reforms emphasise early identification and intervention, alongside stronger preparation for adulthood through better transition planning, employment opportunities, independent living skills, and community participation. We have also launched a joint project to improve transitions into adult social care, including national best practice guidance and training to help staff provide high-quality, coordinated support.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a direct-payment mechanism under the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme to enable grant funding to be paid directly to a TrustMark-registered and MCS-certified installer where a local authority confirms that it is unable to provide a nationally eligible measure through its local delivery arrangements.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme provides grant funding to local authorities to deliver energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income privately owned homes in England below EPC Band C. This includes homes both on and off the gas grid.
The scheme is locally administered and delivered by local authorities. They provide oversight of upgrades in their area, ensuring high quality and monitoring compliance with the required rules and standards of the scheme.
There are no current plans to allow a direct to installer route.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the forbearance obligations on mortgage lenders under the Financial Conduct Authority's Mortgages and Home Finance: Conduct of Business sourcebook, in particular the duty to consider appropriate forbearance for borrowers in financial difficulty, apply independently of and continue beyond the six-month support options introduced under the Mortgage Charter; and what assessment the Government has made of the consistency with which those obligations are applied by lenders to borrowers who have exhausted Mortgage Charter support.
Answered by Rachel Blake
There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments to order to provide tailored forbearance. This could include a range of options; the right option will depend on the borrower’s circumstances.
The Government’s Mortgage Charter, which is a voluntary industry agreement that covers 90% of the mortgage market, provides additional flexibilities to help borrowers who are up-to-date with their repayments, manage their repayments over a short period.
If any borrower does not believe they have been treated fairly by their lender, they may be able to take their complaint to the independent Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which provides a free, independent dispute resolution service.
Importantly, any borrower who is concerned about making their repayment should contact their lender. Seeking support and engaging with lenders to discuss options will not affect a borrower’s credit score in any way, and earlier engagement will mean that lenders can offer more support.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people with symptoms of breast cancer are not dismissed by healthcare professionals because of their age.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including breast cancer in young people, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster.
The National Health Service runs Help Us Help You campaigns in England to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner.
Through the National Cancer Plan for England: delivering world class cancer care, Cancer Alliances will receive £200 million of ring-fenced funding in 2026/27 to support sustainable improvements in cancer delivery and performance, with a key focus on improving early diagnosis rates. Cancer Alliances will focus on increasing awareness of cancer symptoms and supporting primary care to spot signs of cancer early, including breast cancer.
To ensure earlier detection and diagnosis in younger people, the Government will ensure that over time the neighbourhood multi-disciplinary teams that care for children and young people with cancer will have a lead paediatrician. We will help neighbourhood and primary care teams get the right information by supporting the dissemination of evidence-based guidelines and information, including from partners.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that households deemed financially eligible under the Warm Homes Local Grant are able to receive measures where local delivery agents are unable to provide them through supply chains; and how that scheme ensures that households in rural and non-standard properties are not disadvantaged.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant supports low-income households in England by funding energy efficiency improvements - including insulation, heat pumps, and solar PV.
Eligible households in privately owned EPC band D–G homes, both on and off the gas grid, can benefit where they meet the scheme criteria.
Delivery is managed locally, with local authorities responsible for procuring the supply chain capacity and capability needed to deliver upgrades in their areas.
All installations must comply with PAS 2030/2035, which requires retrofit professionals to consider traditionally constructed buildings and any potential unintended consequences, helping to support rural and non-standard properties.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of recent reforms to NHS dental contracts in England on patient access to services and supporting dentists to deliver NHS care; and whether he has considered the potential merits of alternative remuneration models, including the fee‑per‑treatment system used in Scotland, in informing future reform of NHS dentistry.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
We have introduced a package of reforms this year to address some of the pressing issues that dentists and dental teams have been experiencing. These reforms prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups. As of 1 April, dental practices are now required to deliver a set proportion of their contract as urgent care, supported by increased payments for dentists. Regulations introducing the remainder of the reforms, including new complex care pathways, came into force on 23 June. An impact assessment on the reforms has been published and can be found at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2026/42
We are committed to further reform of the National Health Service dental contract by the end of this Parliament. This will include publicly consulting on the future proposals. We are continuing to engage with the sector on these reforms to scope potential changes.
We remain open minded and keen to consider how different payment models could best support the delivery of dental care to patients. There is no one perfect payment model and all payment models will have downsides as well as advantages. Careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system so that we deliver genuine improvements for patients and the profession.