Written questions by Morello.

Whether his Department plans to consult with stakeholders before implementing changes to the (a) role and (b) title of Physician Associates.

The Leng Review’s recommendations are far reaching and require cross-system partnership working to be considered, planned, and delivered effectively. The Department, alongside NHS England, royal colleges, and other stakeholders including representatives of doctors, physician assistants, and physician assistants in anaesthesia, will develop a detailed implementation plan to address the review’s 18 recommendations. Further information on implementation will be set out in due course. The Government intends to commence consultation on a modernised legislative framework for the General Medical Council by the end of this year. These proposals will include the change in role titles. Subject to parliamentary time, our expectation is that these changes will be put before the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments during 2026.

What steps her Department is taking to support people facing difficulties in obtaining mortgages for ex-Right to Buy properties.

HM Treasury is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their mortgage business to understand their position and current lending conditions. However, the pricing of mortgages, including the availability of mortgage finance for particular properties, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. I would encourage any prospective homeowner to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker in order to find the best possible mortgage product for their circumstances.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the complexity of cases handled by advice services.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to fund advice services.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the resilience of farming infrastructure in extreme weather.

We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. There are currently record numbers of farmers taking part in farming schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. As of April 2025, these schemes supported 885,000 hectares of arable land being farmed without insecticides; 330,000 hectares of low input grassland being managed sustainably; and 85,000 kilometres of hedgerows being protected and restored. In the recent spending review, we allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history. This means: Funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29. Overall farmers and land managers will benefit from an average of £2.3 billion a year through the Farming and Countryside Programme. And up to £400 million from additional nature schemes, including those for tree planting and peatland restoration.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase funding for advice services in West Dorset constituency.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support vineyard businesses in West Dorset constituency.

The Government is committed to supporting rural economies and ensuring the UK has a thriving and diverse economy that promotes local jobs and boosts growth. The English wine sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors, which continues to attract domestic and foreign investment. Defra is committed to working with the sector to support its ambitions, drive growth and exports and ensure it provides high-quality jobs in rural communities.

What discussions her Department has had with mortgage providers on access to finance for ex-Right to Buy properties.

HM Treasury is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their mortgage business to understand their position and current lending conditions. However, the pricing of mortgages, including the availability of mortgage finance for particular properties, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. I would encourage any prospective homeowner to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker in order to find the best possible mortgage product for their circumstances.

Whether her Department plans to increase support for schools to assist children in the early stages of primary education in West Dorset constituency.

Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.

What steps his Department is taking to support the marketing and export of wine produced in West Dorset constituency.

DBT supports wine producers in West Dorset and across the UK through a wide range of export initiatives and skills development programmes. The Business Academy offers free training and expert guidance to help businesses access international markets, complemented by one-to-one support from International Trade Advisors. The Export Support Service also provides direct assistance with customs, logistics, and regulatory advice. To boost global visibility, DBT facilitates trade missions to key international markets and champions the work of WineGB at major trade shows and Embassy tastings. This helps showcase award-winning wines including from West Dorset– such as Langham Wine Estate – to buyers and distributors around the world.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department provides to support the development of sustainable coastal defences (a) by communities living in coastal areas at risk of erosion and (b) in Charmouth.

As part of the £2.65 billion FCRM Investment programme for flood and coastal risk reduction, approximately £500 million is being invested in coastal projects across the country to better protect people and properties. The Environment Agency manages the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes (FCIP) which runs between 2021-2027. £3 million is allocated to Future Coast Dorset, which includes Future Coast Charmouth. This will help communities to manage their changing coasts and become more resilient. Defra’s Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant also provides financial assistance to local authorities to support them with the cost of demolishing properties at imminent risk of loss from coastal erosion.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Dorset Council and (b) the Environment Agency on potential alternatives to the no active intervention policy for the Charmouth coastline.

The Government is investing £36 million in the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme to support communities, including in Dorset, to explore innovative approaches to adapt to coastal change. The Environment Agency has published updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map data, including future climate change scenarios. Shoreline Management Plans, developed by local councils, guide long-term strategies for managing flood and erosion risks. The SMP policies for Charmouth were considered during the development of SMP16 ‘Durlston Head to Rame Head’ and will be reviewed as part of the current SMP refresh process. Dorset Council and the Environment Agency are part of the SMP16 management group for South Devon & Dorset, who can consider any new data for this area which may have implications for the current SMP policies.

What proportion of Prevent-funded community resilience projects in the last three years have targeted far-right extremism.

The Home Office recognises the importance of this issue, and the Prevent Duty Guidance notes that “Extreme Right-Wing ideology is resurgent.”Prevent tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation. We work continually to ensure Prevent is ready to respond to all radicalisation risks. This includes developing our understanding of the range of factors that lead to someone being drawn into terrorism.Prevent is run locally by experts who understand the risks and issues in their area, and how best to support their communities. These experts include local authorities, the Police, charities and community organisations.Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Fund.In the year March 2023 to March 2024, 19% of Prevent funded projects focused solely on building resilience to Extreme Right-Wing (ERWT) ideology, and a further 57% focussed on both Islamist Extremist (IE) and ERWT ideology.In the current funding year March 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office has received 78 project bids from local authorities. Of those bids, 15% solely focus on Extreme Right Wing ideology with a further 54% of bids covering both Islamist Extremism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies.Our Prevent local delivery model ensures every local authority has ready access to expertise, guidance and support in tackling local radicalisation and extremism risks via a team of region-based expert Prevent Advisers, who work hand-in-hand with local partners across England, Scotland and Wales.By working with and upskilling these local experts who best understand the risks and issues in their area, we are improving our ability to help frontline workers identify and protect those most susceptible to radicalisation.Analytical teams within the Home Office assess all available information, including material from these local experts, in order to maintain the most up to date picture of the current risks and threats pertaining to radicalisation. This includes issues affecting rural areas and communities, and at a regional level across England, Scotland and Wales.Due to operational and legal sensitivities, the Home Office does not publish specific details of the current intelligence assessment picture.

Whether her Department plans to review duty relief schemes to support the growth of British wine production.

The wine industry makes a vital contribution to our economy and society. Draught Relief allows products served on draught to benefit from a lower rate of alcohol duty, providing vital support to producers, pubs and other venues. Small Producer Relief supports smaller firms and new entrants by providing a reduced duty rate for those who make 4,500 hectolitres or less of alcohol per year. While wine producers can benefit from these reliefs, both are limited to products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV), in line with the principle underpinning the reformed alcohol duty system that stronger alcoholic drinks should pay more duty.The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and the Government welcomes representations from the wine sector in advance of the Budget.

What steps her Department is taking to improve support for children transitioning from early years education to primary school in West Dorset constituency.

Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer have timely access to (a) new and (b) innovative treatments in West Dorset constituency.

Improving early diagnosis, access to treatments, and support across England are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including for those living with secondary breast cancer in West Dorset and rural constituencies.To ensure that people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer have timely access to new and innovative treatments, NHS England commissioned a National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer, which provides timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. The purpose of the audit was to identify information to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The National Health Service is now acting on those findings, including for patients in West Dorset.NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs), including those in Dorset and rural constituencies. This process is independent of Government, and NHS England takes advice on the underlying formula from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. ICB’s are responsible for commissioning healthcare which best meets the needs of their local populations, including treatment and support for secondary breast cancer.To improve early diagnosis rates all over the country, including in West Dorset and rural areas, the Department and NHS England are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. The Department is also committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment, so that people with cancer, including secondary breast cancer, can get access to the care they need more quickly. The NHS is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of threat from far-right extremism in (a) rural communities and (b) the South West.

The Home Office recognises the importance of this issue, and the Prevent Duty Guidance notes that “Extreme Right-Wing ideology is resurgent.”Prevent tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation. We work continually to ensure Prevent is ready to respond to all radicalisation risks. This includes developing our understanding of the range of factors that lead to someone being drawn into terrorism.Prevent is run locally by experts who understand the risks and issues in their area, and how best to support their communities. These experts include local authorities, the Police, charities and community organisations.Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Fund.In the year March 2023 to March 2024, 19% of Prevent funded projects focused solely on building resilience to Extreme Right-Wing (ERWT) ideology, and a further 57% focussed on both Islamist Extremist (IE) and ERWT ideology.In the current funding year March 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office has received 78 project bids from local authorities. Of those bids, 15% solely focus on Extreme Right Wing ideology with a further 54% of bids covering both Islamist Extremism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies.Our Prevent local delivery model ensures every local authority has ready access to expertise, guidance and support in tackling local radicalisation and extremism risks via a team of region-based expert Prevent Advisers, who work hand-in-hand with local partners across England, Scotland and Wales.By working with and upskilling these local experts who best understand the risks and issues in their area, we are improving our ability to help frontline workers identify and protect those most susceptible to radicalisation.Analytical teams within the Home Office assess all available information, including material from these local experts, in order to maintain the most up to date picture of the current risks and threats pertaining to radicalisation. This includes issues affecting rural areas and communities, and at a regional level across England, Scotland and Wales.Due to operational and legal sensitivities, the Home Office does not publish specific details of the current intelligence assessment picture.

Whether his Department plans to allocate additional funding to Integrated Care Boards to help improve (a) support and (b) treatment for people living with secondary breast cancer in (i) Dorset and (ii) rural constituencies.

Improving early diagnosis, access to treatments, and support across England are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including for those living with secondary breast cancer in West Dorset and rural constituencies.To ensure that people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer have timely access to new and innovative treatments, NHS England commissioned a National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer, which provides timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. The purpose of the audit was to identify information to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The National Health Service is now acting on those findings, including for patients in West Dorset.NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs), including those in Dorset and rural constituencies. This process is independent of Government, and NHS England takes advice on the underlying formula from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. ICB’s are responsible for commissioning healthcare which best meets the needs of their local populations, including treatment and support for secondary breast cancer.To improve early diagnosis rates all over the country, including in West Dorset and rural areas, the Department and NHS England are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. The Department is also committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment, so that people with cancer, including secondary breast cancer, can get access to the care they need more quickly. The NHS is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the criteria used to select Charmouth as a location for the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme.

The Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme helps communities that cannot sustainably be defended from coastal erosion aiming to support residents and businesses prepare and plan for the long term. In September 2023, Charmouth, West Dorset, was added to the programme, taking forward measures that will improve the resilience of local heritage and tourism assets. This was informed by an objective assessment from the Environment Agency (EA) of residential and non-residential properties at risk from coastal erosion. National and local EA coastal specialists also considered the capacity, capability, and willingness within the local authority and the actions needed for Charmouth. As a UNESCO Jurassic World Heritage Site and Site of Special Scientific Interest, Charmouth represents a good opportunity to invest in and showcase coastal change resilience measures with the aim of benefiting the community, visitors and the local economy.

Whether she plans to commission new research into the drivers of far-right radicalisation among young men in rural areas.

The Home Office recognises the importance of this issue, and the Prevent Duty Guidance notes that “Extreme Right-Wing ideology is resurgent.”Prevent tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation. We work continually to ensure Prevent is ready to respond to all radicalisation risks. This includes developing our understanding of the range of factors that lead to someone being drawn into terrorism.Prevent is run locally by experts who understand the risks and issues in their area, and how best to support their communities. These experts include local authorities, the Police, charities and community organisations.Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Fund.In the year March 2023 to March 2024, 19% of Prevent funded projects focused solely on building resilience to Extreme Right-Wing (ERWT) ideology, and a further 57% focussed on both Islamist Extremist (IE) and ERWT ideology.In the current funding year March 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office has received 78 project bids from local authorities. Of those bids, 15% solely focus on Extreme Right Wing ideology with a further 54% of bids covering both Islamist Extremism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies.Our Prevent local delivery model ensures every local authority has ready access to expertise, guidance and support in tackling local radicalisation and extremism risks via a team of region-based expert Prevent Advisers, who work hand-in-hand with local partners across England, Scotland and Wales.By working with and upskilling these local experts who best understand the risks and issues in their area, we are improving our ability to help frontline workers identify and protect those most susceptible to radicalisation.Analytical teams within the Home Office assess all available information, including material from these local experts, in order to maintain the most up to date picture of the current risks and threats pertaining to radicalisation. This includes issues affecting rural areas and communities, and at a regional level across England, Scotland and Wales.Due to operational and legal sensitivities, the Home Office does not publish specific details of the current intelligence assessment picture.