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Written Question
Ecology: National Security
Monday 2nd February 2026

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 steps her Department is taking in response to the findings of the Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, published on 26 January 2026.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Nature underpins our security, prosperity, and resilience, and understanding the threats we face from biodiversity loss is essential to addressing them effectively. The UK is already taking action to strengthen resilience to environmental risks at home and overseas.

The Nature Security assessment is a strategic analysis designed to help government plan for potential shocks that are credible enough to warrant preparation and will inform policy and decision-making. This approach ensures the UK is equipped to anticipate and manage risks should they arise. Publishing the assessment also supports international cooperation on shared biodiversity challenges.

In the UK, the Government is investing in sustainable farming, restoring peatlands, improving water quality, and protecting pollinators. The government has introduced landmark legislation to protect our oceans and is working to restore over half of all plantations on ancient woodland sites by 2030.

Internationally, the UK is investing significantly in forest and ocean protection and is supporting the transition to more sustainable food and land use globally, to help ensure the future of our global supply chains.

Together, these measures form part of the UK’s wider strategy to reduce the security risks of biodiversity loss, protect livelihoods, and promote global stability through nature recovery.

Early Day Motion
Bird gathering licences (13 Signatures)
2 Feb 2026
Tabled by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
That this House is concerned by the unannounced changes introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in December 2025 to Bird Gathering Licences; regrets that these amendments prohibit sales and exchanges at licensed bird events, prevent Psittaciformes from being exhibited alongside canaries and finches, and require licences …
Written Question
Rural Payments Agency: Staff
Friday 30th January 2026

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, how many full-time equivalent staff worked for the rural payments agency in each year between 2019 and 2026.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The number of full‑time equivalent (FTE) staff employed by the Rural Payments Agency is published in the public domain as part of Defra’s Monthly Workforce Management Information (MWMI) reports.

This information can be accessed via the following link: : Defra: workforce management information - GOV.UK.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Local Authority Children’s Services

"I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making an important speech on behalf of his most vulnerable constituents. Does he agree that rural and sparsely populated authorities can deliver good-quality children’s services only if special educational needs provision, health integration and transportation are treated as national responsibilities and not …..."
Tim Farron - View Speech

View all Tim Farron (LD - Westmorland and Lonsdale) contributions to the debate on: Local Authority Children’s Services
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 27 Jan 2026
Rural Broadband: Installation

"The hon. Member is making a really important speech, and I commend him for the survey he conducted. In Cumbria, many communities and homes that are within the scope of Project Gigabit are still going to be excluded from it because they are deemed too difficult to reach. The majority …..."
Tim Farron - View Speech

View all Tim Farron (LD - Westmorland and Lonsdale) contributions to the debate on: Rural Broadband: Installation
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"Has the Minister assessed what proportion of British Business Bank grant funding goes to the smallest of businesses? One in four people in my constituency works for themselves or for very small businesses. To what extent is she working to ensure that smaller businesses—those employing 10 people or fewer, which …..."
Tim Farron - View Speech

View all Tim Farron (LD - Westmorland and Lonsdale) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Jan 2026 - Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill - View Vote Context
Tim Farron (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 61 Noes - 311
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Jan 2026 - Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill - View Vote Context
Tim Farron (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 53 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 91 Noes - 378
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Jan 2026 - Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Committee - View Vote Context
Tim Farron (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 61 Noes - 311
Division Vote (Commons)
27 Jan 2026 - Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Committee - View Vote Context
Tim Farron (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 53 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 91 Noes - 378