Written questions by Morello.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to strengthen Section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 to prevent its circumvention through legal or administrative loopholes.

In November 2024, the government consulted on further reforms to the Right to Buy.A formal response to that consultation was published on 2 July 2025 and can be found on gov.uk here.As part of that response, the government noted arguments put forward by local authorities and their representative groups to exempt properties in rural areas or areas with populations of 3,000 or less.We will explore whether changes should be made to Section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 to better protect social and affordable housing in rural communities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in delivering UK Shared Prosperity Fund programmes effectively in rural constituencies.

UKSPF provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022-26), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. The Fund has a light-touch delegated delivery model that empowers local authorities to deliver interventions in line with their local priorities, including rural area priorities. We also administer the Rural England Prosperity Fund via UKSPF (2023-26). It supports activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face. It is complementary to funding used to support rural areas under the UKSPF.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to assess the potential merits of extending UK Shared Prosperity Fund support since the spending review.

The government is introducing a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. Following March 2026, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will end and will be replaced by the local growth fund for specific city regions in England, and communities funding, including the Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to Dorset.

UKSPF provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022-26), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. Dorset Council received £6.01 million (including a £1.58 million Multiply allocation) across 2022-25 and a further £1.45 million of UKSPF funding for 2025-26 to deliver interventions in line with their local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to introduce transitional protection for people who are no longer eligible for full Council Tax support following changes to the assessment of legacy benefit recipients in West Dorset constituency.

Councils are required to provide a Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme to support low-income households. Support for working age households, including the treatment of benefits, is designed by councils in consultation with their residents, taking into account the needs and circumstances of their local communities. Each year, councils must consider whether to revise or replace their scheme.For pension age households, councils administer a centrally prescribed LCTS scheme.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of downsizing support schemes on the availability of larger family homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support the delivery of age-appropriate housing for people approaching retirement in West Dorset constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of (a) extra-care and (b) sheltered housing schemes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support new housing developments for older people in West Dorset constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of housing supply for an ageing population in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with housing associations on supporting downsizing for older tenants.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what recent steps her Department has taken to promote early-stage retirement housing in national planning guidance.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025, UIN 59953 on 23 June 2025, UIN 61666 on 30 June 2025, and UIN 40972 on 1 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to encourage developers to build more adaptable homes for older people in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) other rural areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025, UIN 59953 on 23 June 2025, UIN 61666 on 30 June 2025, and UIN 40972 on 1 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to increase the supply of specialist supported housing for vulnerable older residents in West Dorset constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of financial incentives for the construction of supported housing for the frail elderly.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Dorset Council on expanding social housing provision in West Dorset.

The Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities, including Dorset Council, after the Spending Review detailing the announcements made in relation to social and affordable housing.For an overview of them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 58440 on 17 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps with Dorset Council to ensure local plans include provision for age-appropriate housing to support downsizing in West Dorset constituency.

It is for local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including young families and older residents. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report. Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. In addition to the measures the government has already committed to, including a registration scheme for short term lets and changes to the furnished holiday lets rules, we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset council to ensure housing developments in West Dorset are (a) affordable and (b) suitable for young families.

It is for local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including young families and older residents. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report. Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. In addition to the measures the government has already committed to, including a registration scheme for short term lets and changes to the furnished holiday lets rules, we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require water companies to be statutory consultees for housing developments in West Dorset constituency.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 60676 on 23 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Council on (a) retaining and (b) attracting young families through new housing provision in West Dorset.

It is for local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including young families and older residents. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report. Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. In addition to the measures the government has already committed to, including a registration scheme for short term lets and changes to the furnished holiday lets rules, we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes.