Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the department has considered the potential merits of mutualisation as a solution to Thames Water and wider water industry challenges.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is open to different ownership models where they can deliver benefits for customers, communities and the environment. We committed in the White Paper to make it easier for companies to change ownership model where they wish to do so, including mutual models.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that the budget for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2027 is sufficient to cover expiring agreements and meet demand from farmers seeking to deliver environmental outcomes.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Funding decisions for SFI27 will be made within the overall farming budget, taking account of affordability, value for money, demand and the contribution schemes make to farming and environmental objectives. The Government plans to offer SFI in 2027 and is working to bring forward the offer as early as possible. Eligible farmers who did not obtain an SFI26 agreement will have another opportunity to apply in 2027.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information her Department holds on the average age of patients resident in the postcode district (a) LA2, (b) LA5, (c) LA6, (d) LA7, (e) LA8, (f) LA9, (g) LA10, (h) LA11, (i) LA12, (j) LA13, (k) LA14, (l) LA15, (m) LA16, (n) LA17, (o) LA18, (p) LA19, (q) LA20, (r) LA21, (s) LA22, (t) LA23, (u) CA10 3 and (v) CA17 4 who received radiotherapy treatment at the Rosemere Cancer Centre, Royal Preston Hospital in the first six months of 2026.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients resident in the postcode district (a) LA2, (b) LA5, (c) LA6, (d) LA7, (e) LA8, (f) LA9, (g) LA10, (h) LA11, (i) LA12, (j) LA13, (k) LA14, (l) LA15, (m) LA16, (n) LA17, (o) LA18, (p) LA19, (q) LA20, (r) LA21, (s) LA22, (t) LA23, (u) CA10 3 and (v) CA17 4 received radiotherapy treatment at the Rosemere Cancer Centre, Royal Preston Hospital in 2025 and the first six months of 2026.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the net additional expenditure was on SFI26 agreements.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Window 2 had a budget of £253 million for new agreements, representing a total of £759 million over three years. Published statistics provide information on applications, selected actions and indicative agreement values. These figures do not represent final contracted expenditure because applications remain subject to eligibility and other checks. Defra will publish further information when agreement processing has progressed, and the data have been quality assured.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether ministers or officials in his Department have met with James Purnell to discuss water policy since 4 July 2024; and if she will publish the dates and attendees of any such meetings.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra publishes quarterly ministerial transparency returns, which include details of Ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations. These are available on GOV.UK via the Defra: ministerial overseas travel and meetings collection page: Defra ministerial transparency returns.
Please note that these transparency returns relate to ministerial meetings and do not provide a combined record of meetings attended by both Ministers and officials.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of bupropion as a treatment for depression.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the national body that provides authoritative, evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals on the treatment of specific conditions. Bupropion does not have a United Kingdom marketing authorisation for use in the treatment of depression. NICE considered evidence on the off-label use of bupropion in the development of its guideline on the treatment and management of depression but did not make any recommendations on its use.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans her Department has to ensure the UK's international climate finance contributions are provided in the form of grants rather than loans.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains committed to spending 0.3% of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance. Under ICF3, around 89% of climate finance was delivered through grants. We expect to continue to deliver the large majority of the UK’s ICF ODA as grants.
The Government is switching £400 million of grant funding set aside for future international climate finance projects into loans, providing more flexible ways to meet our international climate objectives. This will support Government’s intention to
invest £400m of loan finance into the Tropical Forests Forever Facility subject to the Fund’s finalisation, completion of our due diligence checks and our conditions being met. Funds that flow from the TFFF to forest countries will not have to be repaid.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether pollution mitigation measures will be incorporated into the (a) National Highways Lune Gorge bridge improvement project and (b) future major road infrastructure schemes.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A) Pollution mitigation measures to be incorporated into the National Highways Lune Gorge bridge improvement project.
The M6 Lune Gorge scheme involves the replacement of seven existing bridge decks close to the River Lune and its tributaries. National Highways has undertaken an accelerated review of drainage outfalls in the Lune Gorge area to complement the renewal works and better understand any potential water quality risks.
The review applied National Highways' standard water quality assessment tools and found no anticipated water quality risks resulting from the scheme. Therefore, no dedicated pollution mitigation measures are planned as a direct consequence of the bridge renewal works.
Regarding the construction work, pollution prevention measures have been developed to prevent deterioration of water quality, protect local ecology and minimise environmental risks.
B) Pollution mitigation measures for future major road infrastructure schemes.
The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), available online, sets out how all current and future National Highways’ major road infrastructure schemes assess, monitor, and mitigate pollution. Examples include standards on noise, air quality, and water quality.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to increase pension saving among farmers given that they are excluded from automatic enrolment and receive no employer contributions.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer must automatically enrol all eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme and make at least a minimum contribution to their pension.
Self-employed individuals, which can include farm owners and operators, are not eligible for Automatic Enrolment because there is no employer to enrol them or make employer contributions on their behalf. While Automatic Enrolment does not apply to this group, the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) must accept individuals who are self-employed and wish to join a pension scheme.
The Pensions Commission has been asked to explore wider steps to improve pension outcomes, including for the self-employed. The Commission published its interim report on 19 May 2026, setting out areas of focus on the longer-term challenges around retirement adequacy, especially for those at the greatest risk of Undersaving including the self-employed The Government will set out its plans following the Pensions Commission’s final report, which is due in early 2027.