26 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities 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.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.
26 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of housing supply for an ageing population in England.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.
26 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of (a) extra-care and (b) sheltered housing schemes.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.
26 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities 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.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.
26 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support new housing developments for older people in West Dorset constituency.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 61360 on 30 June 2025 and UIN 59968 on 23 June 2025.
26 Jun 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat recent discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS England, (b) integrated care boards, and (c) mental health charities on establishing a national strategy for trauma-informed care.
ReplyTrauma informed care is a key theme within National Health Service national guidance. The Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults sets out that interventions available from integrated services should include access to trauma-informed care.As part of its Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme, NHS England has developed care standards for mental health inpatient care to support its vision of inpatient care being trauma informed, autism informed and culturally competent.
26 Jun 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking to develop a national strategy for trauma-informed mental health care in England.
ReplyTrauma informed care is a key theme within National Health Service national guidance. The Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults sets out that interventions available from integrated services should include access to trauma-informed care.As part of its Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme, NHS England has developed care standards for mental health inpatient care to support its vision of inpatient care being trauma informed, autism informed and culturally competent.
26 Jun 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a national trauma-informed mental health strategy on (a) early intervention and (b) treatment outcomes.
ReplyTrauma informed care is a key theme within National Health Service national guidance. The Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults sets out that interventions available from integrated services should include access to trauma-informed care.As part of its Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme, NHS England has developed care standards for mental health inpatient care to support its vision of inpatient care being trauma informed, autism informed and culturally competent.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether her Department has received recent representations from (a) local authorities and (b) people in West Dorset constituency on the use of Section 157 provisions in the Housing Act 1985 to enable second home purchases.
ReplyIt 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.
20 Jun 2025·Department for Education·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to improve (a) early identification and (b) support for children with dyslexia in primary schools in rural areas.
ReplyThis government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.High-quality teaching is central to ensuring that all pupils, including those with dyslexia or other types of SEND, are given the best possible opportunity to achieve. To support all teachers, the department is implementing a range of teacher training reforms to ensure teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed. From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of Early Career Teacher Training to develop training materials that support the needs of children with SEND.We recognise that the early identification of need and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with dyslexia, and measures have been introduced to support the effective teaching of reading. This includes the English Hubs programme, the publication of the reading framework and an updated list of high-quality systematic synthetic phonics programmes for schools. West Dorset's nearest English Hub is The Cornerstone English Hub.Whilst the department has not made an assessment of dyslexia provision in West Dorset, the Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEND under review (including its sufficiency), working with parents, young people, and providers. Where a local area does not meet its duties, we can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement.
20 Jun 2025·Department for Education·Answered
AskedWhether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of post-16 transport costs on (a) education access and (b) participation rates in rural communities.
ReplyThe department recognises that the cost and availability of transport can present difficulties for some students, including those in rural areas. However, the responsibility for post-16 transport lies with local authorities, who have a duty to publish a transport policy statement each year that sets out the travel arrangements they will make to support young people to access further education.Arrangements do not have to be free, but the department expects local authorities to make reasonable decisions based on the needs of their population, local transport infrastructure, and the resources they have available.Many local authorities do offer some form of subsidised transport. For example, in the West Dorset constituency, Dorset Council offer a surplus seat scheme and subsidised transport for young people from low-income families who meet their eligibility criteria. Some education and training providers also provide subsidised or free transport, such as college buses, and travel subsidies from private training providers.The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is also used to help students with travel costs, including those on low incomes. It enables schools, colleges and training providers to support students with transport costs where these have been identified as a barrier to participation.
20 Jun 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on enforcement action relating to pollution affecting Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach.
ReplyThrough the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach: Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season. An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach. Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the purchase as second homes of homes sold under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 in (a) areas of high housing demand and (b) West Dorset constituency.
ReplyIt 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.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities 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.
ReplyIt 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.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support the delivery of smaller, accessible homes in West Dorset constituency to help older residents downsize.
ReplyIt 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.
20 Jun 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of water quality at Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach on public health.
ReplyThrough the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach: Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season. An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach. Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms for restrictions under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 on rural housing markets.
ReplyThe government has not made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement mechanisms for restrictions under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985. There are currently 52 authorities in England that have areas designated as rural.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with Dorset Council on expanding social housing provision in West Dorset.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Jun 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the level of need for additional social housing in West Dorset.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Jun 2025·Department for Education·Answered
AskedWhat recent assessment she has made of the (a) affordability and (b) availability of transport to post-16 (i) education and (ii) training in (A) West Dorset constituency and (B) other rural areas.
ReplyThe department recognises that the cost and availability of transport can present difficulties for some students, including those in rural areas. However, the responsibility for post-16 transport lies with local authorities, who have a duty to publish a transport policy statement each year that sets out the travel arrangements they will make to support young people to access further education.Arrangements do not have to be free, but the department expects local authorities to make reasonable decisions based on the needs of their population, local transport infrastructure, and the resources they have available.Many local authorities do offer some form of subsidised transport. For example, in the West Dorset constituency, Dorset Council offer a surplus seat scheme and subsidised transport for young people from low-income families who meet their eligibility criteria. Some education and training providers also provide subsidised or free transport, such as college buses, and travel subsidies from private training providers.The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is also used to help students with travel costs, including those on low incomes. It enables schools, colleges and training providers to support students with transport costs where these have been identified as a barrier to participation.