Tim Farron MP: written questions 2026
155 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Waste: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many waste crime officers are currently employed by the Environment Agency; and how many large-scale illegal waste sites have a designated waste crime officer assigned to them.
Answer: There are 331 full-time employees directly involved in waste crime. This number includes officers in the Area and National operational teams who respond to illegal waste sites, prevent and disrupt waste crime at sites in England, prevent illegal exports o...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLandfill: ExpenditureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what was the cost to the public purse of landfill site regulation, monitoring, and remediation over the last five years.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) regulates permitted landfill sites on a full cost‑recovery basis. The costs of regulation are met by the landfill operators, primarily through annual subsistence charges which are paid by permit holders. These charges cover rou...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLandfill Tax: Tax YieldsTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124503More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised from Landfill Tax in each of the last five years.
Answer: Landfill Tax receipts for the latest five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25) are published here: HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWaste Management: FinesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what penalties she plans to bring in for waste companies that persistently breach their operating licence.
Answer: The Government’s new Waste Crime Action Plan commits to making fuller use of existing Environment Agency (EA) powers so that high-risk waste sites can be stopped early before they escalate. Earlier EA interventions using Fixed Penalty Notices will deter t...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHeart Diseases: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for the NHS to do cardiac testing on young people.
Answer: The Government recognises how worrying heart health can be for the families of young people. The National Health Service already offers cardiac tests for young people who present with symptoms that could indicate a cardiac issue. Testing young people who ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBabies: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether the newborn screening programme is fit for purpose and screens for all conditions.
Answer: The NHS Newborn Blood Spot Programme screens for ten rare but serious conditions and consistently achieves very high coverage, with the most recent figure at 98% in quarter two of 2025/26.Coverage of babies who move into the area after birth is lower, at ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: Outdoor EducationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Outdoor Learning Specialist apprenticeships are projected to start in the current funding year; how long the standard has been operational; and what he estimates to be the cost saving associate
Answer: The Outdoor Learning Specialist standard was approved for delivery from February 2022.The department publishes a range of apprenticeships data, including on apprenticeship starts, and those for the current academic year are published here: Apprenticeships...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBurkina Faso: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is providing support to improve security in Burkina Faso in the context of recent attacks conducted by Islamist armed groups.
Answer: The UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso, including regular attacks by terrorist groups. This year, the UK provided £173 million to support programmes across the Sahel, including to alleviate the root causes of co...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepressive Illnesses: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase the provision of TMS for depression.
Answer: There are no plans at present to increase the provision of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for depression based on current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care s...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepressive Illnesses: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS mental health Trusts currently provide a TMS service to people experiencing depression and how many people have received a full course of TMS treatment.
Answer: There are no plans at present to increase the provision of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for depression based on current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care s...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: InternetForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding her Department provides to support secure internet access, circumvention technologies and independent Persian-language media for people in Iran; and whether
Answer: On 23 January, the UK supported UN Human Rights Council resolution SS39/1 calling on Iran to immediately restore full internet access and telecommunications services, and in February, we spoke out as part of the Freedom Online Coalition for the Iranian pe...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOppression: IranHome OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce an expedited visa and scholarship scheme for at-risk Iranian activists, journalists and human-rights defenders seeking sanctuary and study in the UK.
Answer: The Home Office is monitoring the situation in Iran and the impacts it will have.The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route in response to the conflict. Existing visa routes remain available and Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can apply t...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOppression: IranHome OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Iranian dissidents, journalists and human-rights defenders resident in the UK from surveillance, harassment and threats linked to the Iranian state.
Answer: The Home Office works closely with other Government departments as well as relevant agencies and law enforcement to protect those identified as being at risk. We will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people ...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian impact of UK sanctions on Iran; and what steps she is taking to ensure that sanctions are focused on human-rights violators a
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 February in response to Question 114342. Further to this, I add that the UK seeks to mitigate any unintended negative impacts of sanctions, including on humanitarian delivery. The UK does not sanction fo...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commit to expanding targeted sanctions against Iranian officials and security force commanders responsible for killings, torture and internet shutdowns during the
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 February in response to Question 114342. Further to this, I add that the UK seeks to mitigate any unintended negative impacts of sanctions, including on humanitarian delivery. The UK does not sanction fo...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the situation of women, girls and ethnic and religious minorities in Iran following the protests that began in December 2025; and what steps h
Answer: The human rights situation in Iran, including for women, girls and minorities, has long been unacceptable. As the Foreign Secretary said to the House on 13 January: it takes huge bravery to protest and to speak out in the face of this oppression - especia...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInfant Foods: SafetyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the recent recall of Aptamil and SMA on NHS infant-formula supply; and what discussions his Department has had with UK manufacturers on that r
Answer: Following the recent recalls of specific batches of infant formula due to the possible presence of the cereulide toxin, the Food Standards Agency has led the incident response, engaging directly with the manufacturers concerned and coordinating public not...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDams and Reservoirs: SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to assess the safety of dams and reservoirs given potential climate impacts, including monitoring and standards; and whether her Department has e
Answer: Reservoir safety in England is regulated under the Reservoirs Act 1975 for which the Environment Agency (EA) is the Enforcement Authority. Reservoir owners and operators are required to employ specialist civil engineers to build, supervise, inspect, and m...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Air PollutionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure a just transition and economic fairness for communities when reducing air pollution from the energy sector.
Answer: The government’s approach to the transition is built on the principle of fairness – for households by ensuring energy security and protecting billpayers, and for workers by ensuring decarbonisation is a route to reindustrialisation.The transition will unl...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential (a) direct and (b) indirect impact of current levels of (i) ambient and (ii) indoor air pollution on the (A) current and (B) future health o
Answer: Ambient and indoor air pollution have long- and short-term health impacts on children and young people, for example respiratory effects including reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has ...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of poor air quality in (a) ambient air and (b) indoor air on different age groups of people in England.
Answer: Poor air quality is a major public health risk in the United Kingdom. An estimated 29,000 to 43,000 deaths were attributable to long-term exposure to ambient air pollution in the UK in 2019 among adults aged 30 years old and over.Indoor residential exposu...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110740More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on air pollution impacting people's health in relation to (a) ambient air and (b) indoor air in England.
Answer: The Department and the UK Health Security Agency have published a range of information and evidence on health impacts of air pollution, to support action to reduce exposure to harmful emissions.The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2022: Air Pollution...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Health Education and Pollution ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110739More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) bring awareness to and (b) help address the potential adverse impact of poor ambient air quality.
Answer: The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out actions to reduce people’s exposure to harmful emissions, improve public understanding of air pollution, and strengthen how air quality information is communicated. The Department continues to work with partne...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Pollution ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on delivering national targets for ambient air including by sharing data.
Answer: Department of Health and Social Care ministers engage regularly with ministerial colleagues on air quality. The 10-Year Health Plan for England details action the Government will take to reduce the health harms of air pollution. This includes the Departme...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAir PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110737More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment she has made of his Department's (a) targets, (b) requirements and (c) performance standards for ambient air pollution and the World Health Organisation's A
Answer: The World Health Organisation’s Air Quality Guidelines inform our approach to improving public health. We remain committed to continuous improvement and the WHO guidelines will continue to inform our evidence when considering next steps.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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