6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat funding is available to police forces for the purchase of inflatable rescue mats used to prevent injuries from high-level jumps.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the availability of fall-prevention equipment across police forces.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedHow many and what proportion of police forces have inflatable crash mats.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department has received applications for (a) the Safer Streets Fund and (b) other funding streams for fall-prevention equipment from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.
ReplyI refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 13 May to Question 50409.
6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether crash mats are included in national resilience equipment standards.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
6 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national (a) specification or (b) reserve for inflatable crash mats for the emergency services.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
2 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department has considered establishing a dedicated National Crime Agency unit to investigate institutional failings in cases of group-based child sexual exploitation.
ReplyThe Government continues to focus on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation.The National Crime Agency (NCA) and police forces can investigative any criminal activity, including offences that have occurred in relation to institutional failings in cases of group-based child sexual exploitation. We have significantly strengthened the National Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce to support police investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation across the country, and we have asked all 43 police forces in England and Wales to work with the Taskforce to review historic cases where 'No Further Action' was taken and to pursue new lines of inquiry, where appropriate, to get justice for more victims and to get more perpetrators behind bars.We are awaiting Baroness Casey's national audit into group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and will set out any further work in due course.
2 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat support her Department has provided to rural police forces for the procurement of emergency equipment.
ReplyThe Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
2 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of ongoing investigations into institutional failings related to group-based child sexual exploitation.
ReplyThe Government continues to focus on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation.The National Crime Agency (NCA) and police forces can investigative any criminal activity, including offences that have occurred in relation to institutional failings in cases of group-based child sexual exploitation. We have significantly strengthened the National Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce to support police investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation across the country, and we have asked all 43 police forces in England and Wales to work with the Taskforce to review historic cases where 'No Further Action' was taken and to pursue new lines of inquiry, where appropriate, to get justice for more victims and to get more perpetrators behind bars.We are awaiting Baroness Casey's national audit into group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and will set out any further work in due course.
25 Apr 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to help ensure that police forces effectively allocate resources to help tackle speeding in rural communities.
ReplyThe 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement.How the police allocate their resources is a matter for individual Chief Constables, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.Enforcement of motoring offences and deployment of officers in West Dorset is an operational matter for Dorset Police’s Chief Constable to determine in line with local policing plans, in conjunction with the local Police and Crime Commissioner.Excess speed is a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads and anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face the full force of the law.
25 Apr 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of police funding levels on the frequency of speeding incidents in an area.
ReplyThe 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement.How the police allocate their resources is a matter for individual Chief Constables, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.Enforcement of motoring offences and deployment of officers in West Dorset is an operational matter for Dorset Police’s Chief Constable to determine in line with local policing plans, in conjunction with the local Police and Crime Commissioner.Excess speed is a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads and anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face the full force of the law.
25 Apr 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department plans to increase visible policing in areas with high rates of road traffic offences in West Dorset constituency.
ReplyThe 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement.How the police allocate their resources is a matter for individual Chief Constables, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.Enforcement of motoring offences and deployment of officers in West Dorset is an operational matter for Dorset Police’s Chief Constable to determine in line with local policing plans, in conjunction with the local Police and Crime Commissioner.Excess speed is a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads and anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face the full force of the law.
22 Apr 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department plans to improve enforcement measures against street racing in West Dorset constituency.
ReplyTackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for the Government and a key part of the Safer Streets Mission.On 25 February 2025, the Crime and Policing Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill includes proposals to give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour including street racing, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.This will strengthen the law and send a clear message that antisocial street racing will not be tolerated.Excess speed is a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads and anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face the full force of the law.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the three grant income streams on the financial sustainability of fire and rescue services in West Dorset constituency.
ReplyGovernment funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In 2025/26, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a core spending power of £74.9m, an increase of £2.4m or 3.3% compared to 2024/25. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, (published on 3 February 2025) sets out that standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. It is the responsibility of each Fire and Rescue Authority to determine how to allocate the funding that they receive based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Officials in the Home Office and MHCLG are working with the National Fire Chiefs Council to collate evidence on the fire and rescue sector’s funding needs to HM Treasury. Decisions on any capital funding will be subject to an assessment at the next Spending Review.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to ensure fire and rescue services have sustainable funding to maintain emergency response capabilities and prevention services.
ReplyGovernment funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In 2025/26, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a core spending power of £74.9m, an increase of £2.4m or 3.3% compared to 2024/25. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, (published on 3 February 2025) sets out that standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. It is the responsibility of each Fire and Rescue Authority to determine how to allocate the funding that they receive based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Officials in the Home Office and MHCLG are working with the National Fire Chiefs Council to collate evidence on the fire and rescue sector’s funding needs to HM Treasury. Decisions on any capital funding will be subject to an assessment at the next Spending Review.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedIf she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the financial settlements for fire and rescue services.
ReplyGovernment funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In 2025/26, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a core spending power of £74.9m, an increase of £2.4m or 3.3% compared to 2024/25. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, (published on 3 February 2025) sets out that standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. It is the responsibility of each Fire and Rescue Authority to determine how to allocate the funding that they receive based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Officials in the Home Office and MHCLG are working with the National Fire Chiefs Council to collate evidence on the fire and rescue sector’s funding needs to HM Treasury. Decisions on any capital funding will be subject to an assessment at the next Spending Review.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department has plans to introduce dedicated capital funding for fire and rescue services to allow them to invest in (a) training facilities, (b) fleet, and (c) estate maintenance.
ReplyGovernment funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In 2025/26, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a core spending power of £74.9m, an increase of £2.4m or 3.3% compared to 2024/25. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, (published on 3 February 2025) sets out that standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. It is the responsibility of each Fire and Rescue Authority to determine how to allocate the funding that they receive based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Officials in the Home Office and MHCLG are working with the National Fire Chiefs Council to collate evidence on the fire and rescue sector’s funding needs to HM Treasury. Decisions on any capital funding will be subject to an assessment at the next Spending Review.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedIf she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ageing fire stations on fire and rescue service operations.
ReplyDecisions about how Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) are run, and how their resources are allocated are a matter for Chief Fire Officers and their democratically elected Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs). They are responsible for meeting the needs of local communities in accordance their Community Risk Management Plans (CRMPs).His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) carries out inspections for each FRS in England to give the public a clear, independent and impartial assessment of performance in each service.
21 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedIf she will make an assessment of the potential impact of fire station closures on public safety in (a) Dorset and (b) Wiltshire.
ReplyDecisions about how Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) are run, and how their resources are allocated are a matter for Chief Fire Officers and their democratically elected Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs). They are responsible for meeting the needs of local communities in accordance with their Community Risk Management Plans (CRMPs)His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) carries out inspections for each FRS in England to give the public a clear, independent and impartial assessment of performance in each service. Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In 2025/26, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a core spending power of £74.9m, an increase of £2.4m or 3.3% compared to 2024/25. The Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, (published on 3 February 2025) sets out that standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Dorset and Wiltshire, will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25.
10 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat her Department's policy is on requiring technology companies to implement backdoors into encrypted services.
ReplyI refer the Hon. Member to the response given to UIN 33378 answered on 3rd March 2025.