Written questions by Morello.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the (a) development and (b) deployment of (i) robotic and (ii) automated fruit-picking technologies.

The Government recognises that automation in horticulture (including robotic and automated fruit picking technologies) is a highly productive and valuable component of our wider agricultural system. Defra is supporting the development and deployment of robotic and automated fruit-picking technologies through targeted investment with the Farming Innovation Programme of £15 million into the development of horticultural robotics, automation and engineering innovation to date. Furthermore, the Government has allocated at least £200 million to the Farming Innovation Programme until 2030, which will continue to enable agri-tech innovation and growth, including technologies that will benefit the horticultural sector.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of charging VAT on carbon offset donations on levels of public engagement with climate action.

Payments that are freely given without the expectation of receiving something in return are not in the scope of VAT. This is a fundamental principle of how VAT operates. Donations made to carbon projects are outside the scope of VAT. This means that VAT should not be charged on carbon offset donations. There are no plans to change this position.

If she will make it her policy to exempt donations to verified carbon offsetting projects from VAT.

Payments that are made voluntarily, without expectation of receiving goods or services in return, fall outside the scope of VAT. This is a core principle of the VAT system. As such, donations to verified carbon offsetting projects are not subject to VAT, and VAT should not be charged on these donations.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure youth work funding is distributed (a) across the country and (b) rural areas.

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area. Local Authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Finance Settlement in line with local need. To support Local Authorities, we launched the £8 million Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities across the country to build back capability to improve local youth offers. The selected local authorities for the pilot include a mix of urban and rural areas.In addition, we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. The strategy will support better coordination of youth services across the country and will increase access to opportunities, in particular in underserved areas. The Strategy will be published in Autumn and will be supported by funding, across the SR period to develop new youth facilities and improve existing ones, as well as further funding to support local youth service provision.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling people to Gift Aid donations made to certified carbon offsetting projects.

The Government recognises the vital role played by the charity sector and the generosity of the British public. That is why we supported charitable giving with over £1.7billion in Gift Aid in tax year 2025. Donations to UK registered charities recognised by HMRC, that are involved in or run certified carbon credit projects, are already allowable for Gift Aid, an example being ‘The Woodland Trust’. The UK Government is a strong supporter of the responsible voluntary use of high-integrity carbon and nature credits as part of climate and nature strategies. This commitment is reflected in the launch of the Principles for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market Integrity and the government consultation which closed in July on their operationalisation, which will further the UK's ambition to become the green finance capital of the world.

Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of youth work on (a) the wellbeing of and (b) employment outcomes for young people.

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. We know the impact that youth work has on young people’s life chances, including on their wellbeing and their employment outcomes. That is why we are co-producing an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, with young people, sector experts and cross-government colleagues.The Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts. We will publish the Strategy in the Autumn.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) HMRC and (b) stakeholders on the VAT treatment of voluntary payments made to international carbon offsetting projects.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders prior to clarifying the policy on the VAT treatment of voluntary carbon credits in 2024. As of 1 September 2024, payments made to non-statutory carbon offsetting projects for the purchase of voluntary carbon credits are in the scope of VAT where the place of supply is the UK. Payments made to international carbon offsetting projects are outside the scope of UK VAT.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of national landscapes on levels of tourism in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) other rural constituencies.

The Government recognises that our National Landscapes, such as the Dorset National Landscape, are among our nation's greatest assets and are significant drivers of domestic and international tourism for rural communities.No assessment has been made on the impact of national landscapes on levels of tourism. The Office for National Statistics has published data sets on business activity including tourism, Enterprises in National Landscapes, Trails and Parks, which can be found at Enterprises in National Landscapes, Trails and Parks 2023 - Office for National StatisticsDetails of tourism and visitor management undertaken by Dorset National Landscape in the West Dorset constituency can be found at Tourism and Visitor Management | Dorset National LandscapeWe continue to work with VisitEngland to promote rural and coastal destinations and support the work of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, such as the Visit Dorset Business Support Hub, in developing and marketing their local visitor offer, in which National Landscapes play a crucial role.

What recent steps her Department has taken to support the provision of specialist SEND services in mainstream schools.

The department know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. The government committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs (SEN) units. We are encouraging schools and local authorities to set up more of these provisions to increase capacity in mainstream schools. We will work with the sector to increase capacity and extend best practice across the system, so that every child or young person with SEND can access a suitable school placement.The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. Of this funding, Dorset has received £5 million in July. We also continue to work very closely with the local authority and trust leaders on proposals to establish, and expand, high quality resource bases and SEN unit provision.The department has also invested £22 million in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces in mainstream primary schools. The aim is to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, including pupils with autism. The PINS programme is being evaluated, and the learning will inform future policy development around how schools support neurodivergent children.Across the Dorset integrated care board (ICB) footprint, 37 schools took part in PINS in 2024/25 and will continue to receive support to embed their learning over 2025/26. The ICB is in the process of recruiting an additional 30 new schools for 2025/26.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent supermarkets from being able to cancel orders from vertical farms at short notice.

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists, which includes practices such as cancelling orders at short notice. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, including those with vertical horticulture systems, from unfair commercial practices. We are already making progress on developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations could require that contracts include clear rules on notice periods, fair termination clauses and processes for changing agreed terms.

Whether her Department is taking steps to increase the number of new SEND schools.

The department know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. The government committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs (SEN) units. We are encouraging schools and local authorities to set up more of these provisions to increase capacity in mainstream schools. We will work with the sector to increase capacity and extend best practice across the system, so that every child or young person with SEND can access a suitable school placement.The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. Of this funding, Dorset has received £5 million in July. We also continue to work very closely with the local authority and trust leaders on proposals to establish, and expand, high quality resource bases and SEN unit provision.The department has also invested £22 million in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces in mainstream primary schools. The aim is to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, including pupils with autism. The PINS programme is being evaluated, and the learning will inform future policy development around how schools support neurodivergent children.Across the Dorset integrated care board (ICB) footprint, 37 schools took part in PINS in 2024/25 and will continue to receive support to embed their learning over 2025/26. The ICB is in the process of recruiting an additional 30 new schools for 2025/26.

Whether his Department has had discussions with the Dorset Integrated Care Board on the use of the electronic prescription service in all care settings.

No discussions have been held between the Department and the Dorset Integrated Care Board on the use of the electronic prescription service (EPS) in all care settings.NHS Dorset has been collaborating with providers of healthcare under the National Health Service’s service agreements to work with suppliers to enable EPS solutions in all environments, commencing in outpatient environments. Independent service provider contracts on renewal or in tender will prioritise EPS as a service requirement.

What steps her Department is taking to support the provision of specialist SEND services in mainstream schools in West Dorset constituency.

The department know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. The government committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs (SEN) units. We are encouraging schools and local authorities to set up more of these provisions to increase capacity in mainstream schools. We will work with the sector to increase capacity and extend best practice across the system, so that every child or young person with SEND can access a suitable school placement.The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. Of this funding, Dorset has received £5 million in July. We also continue to work very closely with the local authority and trust leaders on proposals to establish, and expand, high quality resource bases and SEN unit provision.The department has also invested £22 million in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces in mainstream primary schools. The aim is to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, including pupils with autism. The PINS programme is being evaluated, and the learning will inform future policy development around how schools support neurodivergent children.Across the Dorset integrated care board (ICB) footprint, 37 schools took part in PINS in 2024/25 and will continue to receive support to embed their learning over 2025/26. The ICB is in the process of recruiting an additional 30 new schools for 2025/26.

Whether her Department plans to increase the number of new SEND schools in West Dorset constituency.

The department know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. The government committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs (SEN) units. We are encouraging schools and local authorities to set up more of these provisions to increase capacity in mainstream schools. We will work with the sector to increase capacity and extend best practice across the system, so that every child or young person with SEND can access a suitable school placement.The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. Of this funding, Dorset has received £5 million in July. We also continue to work very closely with the local authority and trust leaders on proposals to establish, and expand, high quality resource bases and SEN unit provision.The department has also invested £22 million in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces in mainstream primary schools. The aim is to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, including pupils with autism. The PINS programme is being evaluated, and the learning will inform future policy development around how schools support neurodivergent children.Across the Dorset integrated care board (ICB) footprint, 37 schools took part in PINS in 2024/25 and will continue to receive support to embed their learning over 2025/26. The ICB is in the process of recruiting an additional 30 new schools for 2025/26.

What steps she is taking to ensure that approved funding for SEND school facility upgrades is released without delay.

The department know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. The government committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.Many mainstream settings are already committed to delivering specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs (SEN) units. We are encouraging schools and local authorities to set up more of these provisions to increase capacity in mainstream schools. We will work with the sector to increase capacity and extend best practice across the system, so that every child or young person with SEND can access a suitable school placement.The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. Of this funding, Dorset has received £5 million in July. We also continue to work very closely with the local authority and trust leaders on proposals to establish, and expand, high quality resource bases and SEN unit provision.The department has also invested £22 million in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces in mainstream primary schools. The aim is to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children, including pupils with autism. The PINS programme is being evaluated, and the learning will inform future policy development around how schools support neurodivergent children.Across the Dorset integrated care board (ICB) footprint, 37 schools took part in PINS in 2024/25 and will continue to receive support to embed their learning over 2025/26. The ICB is in the process of recruiting an additional 30 new schools for 2025/26.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for (a) addiction services and (b) wider support for people who use addictive drugs.

The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to local authorities to improve drug and alcohol services and recovery support, which includes housing and employment. Beyond drug and alcohol treatment services, this year the Government is providing an additional £70 million for local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England, building on existing funding made available via the Public Health Grant. On 30 December 2024, the Department confirmed final funding allocations for 2025/26 for each local authority, and published guidance to support local authorities to plan their local interventions, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-stop-smoking-services-and-support-funding-for-2025-to-2026/local-stop-smoking-services-and-support-funding-allocations-and-methodology-for-2025-to-2026This additional funding will ensure that there is a comprehensive offer across local authorities in England, while providing additional weighted funding to local authorities with the highest smoking rates. Decisions on funding for future years will be made once the Spending Review process has concluded.In April 2025, a new statutory levy on gambling operators, expected to raise approximately £100 million per year, was introduced to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harms. The levy will be distributed across the three workstreams, with 50% allocated to NHS England, alongside the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, to commission the development of effective treatment and support services at national and sub-national levels, and 30% allocated to the Department, Public Health Wales, and an appropriate body in Scotland to deliver prevention activity.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing supervised drug consumption facilities on (a) levels of drug-related harm and (b) public health.

The government has no current plans to facilitate the implementation or regulation of drug consumption rooms.This government will continue to promote preventative public health measures and we are committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug problem can access the help and support they need.

What plans she has to help increase early identification of SEND needs; and reduce waiting times for (a) diagnosis and (b) support in West Dorset constituency.

The department knows that early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with a special educational need or disability (SEND). An inclusive education system requires moving away from the current reliance on labels and diagnoses before support materialises. It needs to be able to accurately assess children and young people’s learning and development, and to effectively support their educational needs with evidence-based responses. To support this, the department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve early identification in all types of settings, including through commissioning evidence reviews from University College London, which will highlight the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for teachers and other relevant staff.In addition, each Best Start Family Hub will have a children and family services professional specifically trained in working to support parents of children with additional needs. This will help identify children with SEND who may need extra help early on, making links with local early years settings and health services.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that Education, Health and Care Plans include (a) measurable and (b) enforceable targets.

Local authorities must ensure that education, health and care (EHC) plans comply with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice.The code states that EHC plans must detail the outcomes sought for the child or young person. These should be specific and measurable, and the plan should be used to monitor a child or young person’s progress towards them and their longer term aspirations.Plans must be reviewed by the local authority at a minimum every 12 months.Reviews must consider whether the outcomes and supporting targets remain appropriate and may include setting new interim targets for the coming year or agreeing new outcomes.Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission carry out joint inspections of area SEND arrangements. These will consider the effectiveness of local SEND arrangements, including whether children and young people with SEND are well prepared for their next steps.Where a local authority does not meet its duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement.

What discussions he has had with OFGEM on the potential impact of its proposed RIIO GD3 settlement for the gas network on levels of health and safety.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 28th July to questions UIN 69173 and 69174.