Written questions by Morello.

Innovation and Technology, when his Department last made an assessment of mobile data coverage in (a) rural areas and (b) West Dorset.

The regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for reporting on the state of mobile network coverage across the UK.Ofcom reports that as of January 2025, 4G is available across 78% of UK rural areas from all four mobile operators, while 5G, combined standalone and non-standalone, is available outside 82% of rural premises from at least one operator.In West Dorset, 4G is available across 91% of the constituency from all four operators, while 5G is available outside 87% of premises in the constituency of West Dorset from at least one operator.Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. We work closely with the mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage right across the UK, including removing barriers to deployment where they exist. This included hosting a MP roundtable on 1 July attended by the mobile operators and Ofcom. We have also encouraged Ofcom to improve its reporting on mobile coverage, which has resulted in a much improved online checker.

What discussions his Department has had with NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board on improving (a) dementia diagnosis and (b) care pathways in West Dorset constituency.

The Department of Health and Social Care engages regularly with integrated care boards (ICBs) on a number of matters, including dementia.Through such engagement, we are aware that GPs and frailty teams are being supported by the ICB and Memory Assessment Services (MAS) to start using the Diagnosing Advanced Dementia Mandate (DiADeM) diagnostic tool within the care home population. Patients and their carers are referred to the support offered by partner charity Help and Care’s wider community services on acceptance to the MAS, so they can be matched with appropriate support and information while they wait for an assessment and possible diagnosis.The post-diagnosis Dementia Coordinator service is then made directly available when the person receives a dementia diagnosis for more long-term coordinated support response and information around living well with the condition. This is and will be a pan-Dorset service, providing equity across the county.Under the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.

What steps his Department is taking to regulate sudden price increases in privately purchased weight loss drugs.

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require Natural Landscapes to be statutory consultees for housing developments in (a) all areas with high levels of natural landscapes and (b) West Dorset constituency.

The government is clear that the bar for being a statutory consultee in the planning system, and therefore having to be consulted on planning applications by law, should be high. In January 2025 the government declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510). The government has not had discussions with Natural Landscapes about their engagement with the planning system.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of private providers increasing the cost of weight loss drugs by 170% with two weeks’ notice on patients.

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

What discussions his Department has had with private providers on patient protection from rapid increases in the cost of weight loss drugs.

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making Natural Landscapes statutory consultees in the housing planning system.

The government is clear that the bar for being a statutory consultee in the planning system, and therefore having to be consulted on planning applications by law, should be high. In January 2025 the government declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510). The government has not had discussions with Natural Landscapes about their engagement with the planning system.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken since the Spending Review to improve online safety on social media platforms in rural areas.

Making the UK a safer place to be online is a priority for the government, including in rural areas. As such, the government is committed to implementing the Online Safety Act as quickly and effectively as possible to ensure that all UK users, particularly children, benefit from its wide-ranging protections.The illegal content and child safety duties are already in force and we anticipate that adults and children will see a tangible and positive difference in their experiences online. Ofcom is already investigating services in relation to compliance, including with the recent requirements to introduce age checks for pornographic content.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of social media on children’s mental health in rural areas.

The government is working to expand the evidence base on the impact of social media on children across the UK. In December 2024 DSIT commissioned a feasibility study into research to understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children. The report will be published in due course.In addition, Ofcom has a large programme of work underway to help build further understanding of the impact of online services’ features and functionalities on children.

What recent progress his Department has made on the development of UGVs for UK defence purposes.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 recommended a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK’s conventional force.It stated a common digital foundation of data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), synthetic environments, and networks should connect people and platforms across all domains, and with allies and partners. This gives the Integrated Force agility, speed of manoeuvre, and effective targeting to outmatch adversaries. The merits of military use of AI assisted drones are widely acknowledged in several roles and environments, most notably in Ukraine. The availability of extensive suites of sensors designed to operate across the electromagnetic spectrum have removed many of the traditional barriers associated with operations at night or in restricted visibility. Furthermore, the utility for AI enabled drones to exploit these sensors, including during periods of rest for, or absence of, human surveillance teams, is a fundamental consideration for UK Defence’s capability development. Consequently, the SDR stated that uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high numbers over the next five years. They will be networked with crewed fifth- and sixth-generation assets as part of a ‘high-low’ mix of capabilities, while these systems’ design will be tailored to the conditions in which they will operate, day or night; whether undersea, at sea, on land, or in the air. The development of UGV and drone capabilities remains a dynamic and evolving area. While specific projects are underway, detailed information cannot be provided whilst the projects are in their Concept Phase.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory duty to consult Natural Landscapes on all development proposals.

The government is clear that the bar for being a statutory consultee in the planning system, and therefore having to be consulted on planning applications by law, should be high. In January 2025 the government declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510). The government has not had discussions with Natural Landscapes about their engagement with the planning system.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with Natural Landscapes on their role in planning consultations in relation to new housing developments.

The government is clear that the bar for being a statutory consultee in the planning system, and therefore having to be consulted on planning applications by law, should be high. In January 2025 the government declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510). The government has not had discussions with Natural Landscapes about their engagement with the planning system.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on mitigating the potential threat from former British nationals in (a) al-Hol and (b) al-Roj prison camps, following recent instability in Syria.

We continue to work closely with partners to regularly assess and monitor any threats from within al-Hol and al-Roj camps in North East Syria, including through our role in the Global Coalition Against Daesh's military mission.We do not comment on individual cases, operational intelligence, or security matters, but we will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential security risk posed to the UK by former British nationals from al-Hol prison camp in Syria, following recent instability in Syria.

We continue to work closely with partners to regularly assess and monitor any threats from within al-Hol and al-Roj camps in North East Syria, including through our role in the Global Coalition Against Daesh's military mission.We do not comment on individual cases, operational intelligence, or security matters, but we will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential security risk posed to the UK by former British nationals from al-Roj prison camp in Syria, following recent instability in Syria.

We continue to work closely with partners to regularly assess and monitor any threats from within al-Hol and al-Roj camps in North East Syria, including through our role in the Global Coalition Against Daesh's military mission.We do not comment on individual cases, operational intelligence, or security matters, but we will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to monitor former British nationals returning to the UK from (a) al-Hol and (b) al-Roj prison camps, following recent instability in Syria.

We continue to work closely with partners to regularly assess and monitor any threats from within al-Hol and al-Roj camps in North East Syria, including through our role in the Global Coalition Against Daesh's military mission.We do not comment on individual cases, operational intelligence, or security matters, but we will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department is taking to support communities affected by extreme weather in West Dorset constituency.

The preparation for, response to and recovery from extreme weather sits across a number of organisations, including the Cabinet Office, UK Health and Security Agency, and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. As the Lead Government Department for flooding, Defra works with partners across local and national Government to strengthen preparedness for flooding. In 2024, Defra established the Floods Resilience Taskforce, a collaborative initiative uniting all levels of Government, emergency services, businesses, and environmental groups to improve flood preparedness. Over the past 12 months, the taskforce has helped drive improvements to national flood modelling and forecasting, the communication of flood warnings, and has raised awareness of schemes to support those affected by flooding. The fourth meeting in September discussed preparedness for the 2025 autumn/winter period. Following the wettest winter on record, the Environment Agency is investing £5 million to protect 444 properties in West Dorset, maintaining key assets, supporting coastal projects, improving property flood resilience, and working with partners on natural flood management and coastal risk response. Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) in England are tasked with coordinating local emergency preparedness, including extreme weather events. West Dorset is represented on the Dorset LRF as part of the Dorset Councils Partnership. The Dorset LRF Community Risk Register, which includes local risk assessments for extreme weather events in Dorset, can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to support brownfield site development in West Dorset constituency.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses. Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas. On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals. No brownfield land and infrastructure remediation funding is currently available in West Dorset. However, on 18 June 2025 my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Dorset Council on brownfield site development in West Dorset constituency.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses. Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas. On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals. No brownfield land and infrastructure remediation funding is currently available in West Dorset. However, on 18 June 2025 my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) small and (b) independent hotels in West Dorset constituency during the off-peak season.

The Government is committed to supporting the hospitality sector as a valuable contributor to the UK economy and visitor offer. We are introducing permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, alongside a new Licensing Taskforce to cut red tape. Targeted initiatives include a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme and the Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, helping over 600 SMEs cut costs and emissions. Through ongoing collaboration with the Hospitality Sector Council, we are strengthening productivity and resilience across the sector.DCMS works closely with VisitEngland, Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) and industry to support small and independent accommodation providers, including hotels in West Dorset. Targeted marketing campaigns encourage off-peak domestic breaks, while LVEPs like Visit Dorset improve local coordination and promote year-round tourism. These efforts, alongside the upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy, help sustain the competitiveness of hotels and hospitality businesses throughout the year.