Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has (a) made a comparative assessment of and (b) sought advice on the reasons for why the area burnt by wildfires in the UK increased last year with global trends towards a reduction.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Government is working rapidly to evaluate the impact of the 2026 wildfires and assess the causes of the wildfires. The extreme drought and heat experienced this year are clear contributing factors in most regions of England. But it is critical that this assessment considers the diverse English landscape and the different causes of, for example, heathland fire in the East of England compared to moorland fires in the North West of England.
The evaluation of wildfires and assessment of causes takes account of the impacts of climate change and includes a comparison with other countries. This work will inform a Wildfire Action Plan.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total value of expenditure on the Service Pupil Premium in England is in the 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government recognises the significant contribution and sacrifice made by members of our armed forces and their families. In the 2026/27 financial year, expenditure on the service pupil premium (SPP) in England is £26.8 million.
The SPP provides additional funding to state-funded schools to support the pastoral needs of children from service families. It is intended to help schools address the challenges that service children can face as a result of service life, including mobility between schools, parental deployment and separation from family members. Schools can use the funding in ways that best meet the needs of their service children, helping them to thrive both academically and emotionally.
This funding reflects the government's commitment to supporting service children and ensuring that they receive the support they need to succeed in education.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether expenditure on the Service Pupil Premium in England generates Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government; and if so, what the value of those consequentials is in the 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Department for Education received funding for the Service Pupil Premium at Spending Review 2025, and the Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Education’s DEL budget.
At Spending Reviews, because the Barnett formula is not applied to the individual programmes driving the change in a UK department’s DEL budget, the Barnett consequentials associated with the Service Pupil Premium cannot be identified.
The Block Grant Transparency publication includes a breakdown of changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding. The most recent report was published in October 2025.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of peat destroyed by the 2025 wildfires.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is protecting peat from wildfire through peatland restoration and is committed to restoring 280,000 hectares of peatland by 2050. Figures for the scale of wildfires on peat and the amount peat destroyed are not yet available. Work is underway to evaluate the impact of the 2025 wildfires on peatlands.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection legislation in relation to theatre ticket purchases where a production is advertised using the name, image and profile of a specific performer; and if he will take steps to ensure that consumers are entitled to (a) advance notification, (b) refunds and (c) compensation where that performer is unable to appear.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Consumers are protected by a strong framework of consumer legislation. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be provided as described and consumers may be entitled to remedies where this is not the case. Whether consumers are entitled to advance notification, or other remedies will depend on the circumstances, for example how the performance was advertised.
Consumers can seek free information on their rights through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or through its website.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is tracking progress on the incorporation of the recommendations of the Path to Net Zero report, by the Climate Assembly, into the Net Zero Strategy.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We appreciate the time and consideration that participants put into the UK Climate Assembly and have considered the findings carefully in the development of the Energising Britain plan.
The plan sets out how we will continue to work in partnerships with businesses, communities, scientists, civil societies and many others to ensure it is easier, clearer and more affordable for people and communities to access the benefits of the clean energy transition.
As committed to in the Energising Britain plan, we are currently establishing a new a Youth Climate and Nature Panel to ensure the voices of young people and intergenerational collaboration are at heart of our policies
We will be continuously seeking input from stakeholders and monitoring progress and impact throughout delivery.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much of the £2.5 billion Steel Fund has been spent within Wales to date.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is providing up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, in addition to the £500m grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot. This is being delivered through a combination of direct support for steel companies and the National Wealth Fund.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is not running a competitive steel fund and has not sought or received applications from steel companies of this nature. Companies seeking investment can contact the National Wealth Fund.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, as of August 2026, how much of the £2.5 billion steel fund has been A) spent and/or B) allocated.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is providing up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, in addition to the £500m grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot. This is being delivered through a combination of direct support for steel companies and the National Wealth Fund.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is not running a competitive steel fund and has not sought or received applications from steel companies of this nature. Companies seeking investment can contact the National Wealth Fund.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much of the £2.5 billion Steel Fund has been spent on Scunthorpe Steelworks to date.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is providing up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, in addition to the £500m grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot. This is being delivered through a combination of direct support for steel companies and the National Wealth Fund.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is not running a competitive steel fund and has not sought or received applications from steel companies of this nature. Companies seeking investment can contact the National Wealth Fund.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of protections for landowners entering into option agreements with renewable energy developers.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that landowners are appropriately protected when entering into commercial agreements with renewable energy developers.
Option agreements are private contractual arrangements between landowners and developers, and as such are governed by general contract and property law, including requirements around fairness and transparency.