Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of short-term land use to improve soil health and resilience to droughts and floods.

Defra currently has research programmes underway on the impact of different agricultural land management options. The Government recognises the importance of healthy, functioning soil for resilience against the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and drought. The rich variety of soils across England need to be managed with particular consideration given to the soil type, climate, land use and desired function. While these decisions are made at farm level, they need the right frameworks, incentives and conditions from Government and the wider food chain. That is why the Government is currently consulting on our vision for land use in England, which will inform the development of a Land Use Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that the plan for growth includes protections for (a) wildlife and (b) nature.

This Government is fully committed to ensuring that development contributes to nature’s recovery and delivers a win-win for both nature and the economy. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will establish a Nature Restoration Fund. This will create a more efficient and effective way for obligations related to our most important sites and species to be discharged at a scale that brings about the greatest environmental benefits. The Autumn Budget 2024 committed £45 million in funding to support the establishment of the Fund.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to hold a public consultation on the Air Quality Information System Review's conclusions and recommendations.

The Government recognizes the importance of effectively communicating air quality information to the public, which is why we conducted a comprehensive review of the Air Quality Information System (AQIS). A large evidence base has been assimilated which gives a strong foundation for taking forward solutions. The final report and accompanying evidence will be published shortly. We will not be conducting a public consultation on the recommendations of this review. They will inform air quality elements of the revised Environmental Improvement Plan and will be incorporated into a revised Air Quality Strategy in due course.

Whether he plans to attend the World Health Organisation’s Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in March 2025.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is unable to attend this World Health Organisation (WHO) conference. We aim to support attendance at relevant international events where possible and as appropriate, and work across Government to determine if and how Ministers can undertake travel, considering availability and finite resources.The Government recognises that air pollution is a local, regional, and global issue and continues to be a long-standing supporter and member of the WHO. In advance of the Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, the United Kingdom is providing funding to the WHO to refresh and synthesize the evidence base on the health impacts of air pollution.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on (a) reducing regional and (b) achieving international commitments to reduce air pollution.

The United Kingdom is playing an active role in engagement with European counterparts and other countries in reducing air pollution.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take through the Environmental Improvement Plan to consider the potential impact of air pollution on public health.

The Government has recently concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). As you can easily see, we published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025, to be followed by publication of a revised EIP later this year. The revised EIP will include a series of interventions to reduce emissions of air pollutants so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been paid to farmers to support solar projects since 2016.

The second round of the Improving Farm Productivity grant was launched under the Farming Investment Fund in January 2024 and included an offer for solar PV equipment. It is early days, but to date, over £31,000 has been paid out to farmers and horticultural businesses. The window for submitting full applications for this scheme remains open until 31 July 2025, after which Defra will continue to pay out to applicants for their projects. Successful applicants can make up to three claims once they have a Grant Funding Agreement in place but can claim as soon as parts of a project are complete. Defra’s focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable as the best way to make farming businesses viable for the future. This will ensure the long-term food security this country needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have applied for the Improving Farming Productivity Grant; how many of those applications were successful; and how much has been paid out per (a) grant category and (b) round.

The total number of full applications received for Improving Farm Productivity to-date is 413. Of those appraised, 204 have been offered a grant to the value of over £23 million, 84 applications have been rejected or withdrawn, and 125 are currently in appraisal. A total of over £11 million has been paid out from the scheme to-date across both rounds; £9.4 million from Round 1 applications, and £1.6 million from Round 2. All applications in Round 1 were for robotic equipment, whereas in Round 2 £1.5 million has been paid out for solar projects, and £31,000 for robotic and automatic equipment. We do not currently categorise applications in any greater detail. Successful applicants can make up to three claims once they have a Grant Funding Agreement in place but can claim as soon as parts of a project are completed.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been paid to farmers to improve environmental sustainability since 2016.

The Government spent £3.745 billion on Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive from 2016 up to 28 February 2025 to improve environmental sustainability. An additional £36 million has been paid through the England Woodland Creation Offer.

What steps she has taken to ensure that victims of modern slavery detained in enforcement activity for illegal working are (a) identified and (b) protected.

All staff within the Home Office involved in immigration enforcement activity are provided with appropriate training and guidance for their roles. This includes, but is not limited to, training around Modern Slavery, the National Referrals Mechanism process and the Adults at Risk in detention policy.

What (a) provisions and (b) safeguards her Department has put in place to help ensure that victims of modern slavery detained in recent enforcement activity for illegal working are (i) identified and (ii) protected.

All staff within the Home Office involved in immigration enforcement activity are provided with appropriate training and guidance for their roles. This includes, but is not limited to, training around Modern Slavery, the National Referrals Mechanism process and the Adults at Risk in detention policy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased Teachers' Pension Scheme employer contributions on higher education institutions; and whether her Department plans to offer subsidies to those institutions.

The government acknowledges the significant impact of our world-leading higher education (HE) sector. As both educational and research institutions, these universities make a vital contribution to our economy, society, and to industry and innovation.The department appreciates the impact of the increased Teachers‘ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate on some HE providers and is working with departmental officials and stakeholders across the sector to better understand the impact of this issue.We are also reviewing options to deliver a more robust HE sector and will set out a long-term plan for reform by summer 2025.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing higher education institutions to develop alternative pension options.

The government acknowledges the significant impact of our world-leading higher education (HE) sector. As both educational and research institutions, these universities make a vital contribution to our economy, society, and to industry and innovation.The department appreciates the impact of the increased Teachers‘ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate on some HE providers and is working with departmental officials and stakeholders across the sector to better understand the impact of this issue.We are also reviewing options to deliver a more robust HE sector and will set out a long-term plan for reform by summer 2025.

If she will increase funding for public services to help ensure the affordability of pay awards.

I refer the hon Member to my answer during HMT topical questions today (21 January 2025).

With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, whether the £70 million for new radiotherapy machines will be made available to upgrade machines.

The funding for new radiotherapy machines will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England has developed. The new machines will support the recovery of cancer waiting times and help ensure that patients have access to the most up-to-date treatments.

With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, how the £70 million for new radiotherapy machines will increase access to (a) adaptive radiotherapy and (b) other forms of modern radiotherapy.

The funding for new radiotherapy machines will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England has developed. The new machines will support the recovery of cancer waiting times and help ensure that patients have access to the most up-to-date treatments.

When the radiotherapy tariff was last updated; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential need for further updates.

The NHS Payment Scheme (NHSPS) replaced the national tariff from 1 April 2023. Following consultation, some amendments have been made for 2024/25, which came into effect on 1 April 2024. The amendments in the 2024/25 NHSPS included specialist radiotherapy services. In September 2024, a revised set of 2024/25 prices was published, which includes radiotherapy services and workforce tariffs. These prices have been updated to reflect a revised cost uplift factor for 2024/25.NHS England held a series of workshops in October 2024 to set out, and seek feedback on, potential proposals for the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme, and other aspects of the NHS finance system expected to come into effect from 1 April 2025.

Whether his Department (a) has consulted and (b) plans consult with (i) clinical experts, (ii) the radiotherapy industry, (iii) patients and (iv) charities on how best to allocate the funds announced in the Budget for new radiotherapy machines.

The funding for new radiotherapy machines will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England has developed, so that the new machines can best meet the needs of patients across the country. The Department has no plans to consult on this matter.

With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, what criteria he plans to use to prioritise the allocation of the funds for radiotherapy cancer treatments.

The funding for new radiotherapy machines will be used to replace outdated machines, and allocated to trusts using criteria that NHS England has developed. The new machines will support the recovery of cancer waiting times and help ensure that patients have access to the most up-to-date treatments.

With reference to paragraph 2.71 of the Autumn Budget 2024, what estimate he has made of the number of radiotherapy machines that will be replaced; and whether his Department plans to fundi a rolling replacement programme.

NHS England will allocate funding to trusts to purchase new radiotherapy machines, and trusts may purchase different types of machines. Therefore, it is not yet known how many machines will be purchased. There are currently no plans to have a rolling replacement programme.