Written questions by Morello.

With reference to Q204 of the oral evidence given by him to the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 April 2025, HC 563, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an increase in the geographical area of integrated care boards on the adequacy of rural NHS services' (a) funding and b) staffing levels.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health services and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, NHS trusts, and NHS foundation trusts on 1 April 2025, where ICBs were tasked with developing plans setting out how they will manage their resources to deliver across their priorities. This letter is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/Ministers and the Department will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure ICBs continue to fulfil their future functions effectively within the running costs cap and unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for their population, including for those in rural areas.

What recent assessment he has made of emergency service capacity in tourist areas during the summer months in West Dorset constituency.

NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs then decide how that money is spent within the local integrated care system, and are responsible for planning service provision in their local area. In doing so, ICBs, including the NHS Dorset ICB, which is responsible for services in West Dorset, should consider how best to use their funding to meet patient demand, including expected seasonal variation. ICB allocations for 2025/26 were published on 30 January 2025, and are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2025-26/The National Health Service’s operational pressures escalation levels (OPEL) framework provides a standardised approach to support an effective, integrated, and coordinated response to acute trust operational pressures. This includes actions locally, regionally, and nationally that support the depressurising of services and ensure patient safety. Further information about the OPEL framework is published by NHS England at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/integrated-opel-framework-2024-to-2026/

What steps her Department is taking to help support local authorities to implement speed reductions in rural villages.

The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance on setting local speed limits. This is designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set, whilst allowing for flexibility to deal with local needs and circumstances.The guidance can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits

Whether her Department plans to review the potential impact oforganophosphate exposure on occupational health outcomes in agricultural workers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing authority for workplace health and safety on farms. The potential impact of organophosphate exposure on occupational health outcomes in agricultural workers, taking account of occupational exposure risk and current state of knowledge, is the basis for industry specific guidance in relation to organophosphate exposure and sheep dipping. This information is published in HSE Agricultural Information Sheet AIS41 (Sheep dipping: Advice for farmers and others involved in dipping sheep) and is freely available to download from the HSE website. HSE has no plans to carry out a further review at this time.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has (a) analysed and (b) commissioned research on the potential long-term health impacts of organophosphate exposure on agricultural workers since 2014.

The Government commissioned a considerable amount of research to investigate whether there is a link between the use of organophosphate sheep dips and chronic ill-health. The outcome of this research was provided to the independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment who have published two statements in 2009 and 2014. The independent scientific advice is that the research evidence does not support a link between the use of sheep dips and chronic ill-health. Therefore, it would be unlikely that further public inquiry would reach a different conclusion, making it difficult to justify committing public funds to an inquiry.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to remove the one metre boundary rule for air source heat pumps in 2025.

The relevant regulations were laid on 8 May 2025 and came into force on 29 May 2025. Further details on the changes can be found on gov.uk here.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in payment frequency from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit on the finances of claimants.

Universal Credit has a range of tools available to support customers with budgeting including Benefit Transfer Advances which are available for customers moving across from legacy benefits to UC. Universal Credit is, by default, a monthly payment which is paid directly to customers as a single household payment. Alternative Payment Arrangements are available to support those who cannot manage the single monthly payment.In instances where it is identified that a claimant is finding it difficult to budget, they can ask to have their Universal Credit payment divided over the month to be paid more frequently. This may be paid twice, or in exceptional circumstances, four times within a monthly assessment period. This payment arrangement does not increase the total award received within each assessment period.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of access to NHS dentistry in new developments in West Dorset constituency.

Dental Statistics - England 2023/24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available from the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324The data for the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, which includes the West Dorset constituency, shows that 36% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2024, compared to 40% in England, and that 52% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to increase funding for nature-friendly farming.

We remain committed to investing £5 billion of funding in the farming budget over two years and are on track to do so. This is the highest budget for sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our history. Spending on farming in future financial years will be confirmed as part of the government’s spending review.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with animal rights groups on the (a) import and (b) sale of fur products.

There have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with animal rights groups specifically on the import and sale of fur products. Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The report that they produce will support our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps.

What steps she is planning to take to assist low-income families facing rising living costs in West Dorset constituency.

To support those most in need, the Government have introduced a Fair Repayment Rate, capping debt deductions made through Universal Credit, enabling 1.2 million families to keep more of their UC award each month and benefiting around 700,000 of the poorest families with children.We also extended the Household Support Fund in England, as well as Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales, helping households facing the greatest hardship. Working age benefits increased fully by inflation in 2025-26 which will see around 5.7 million families on Universal Credit gain £150 on average this year.The Government has set out the next steps in delivering our approach for regional growth, spreading growth across the country through investment and reform, including via devolution of funding and powers. This will benefit people across the country, including in the West Devon constituency.

What steps his Department is taking to promote awareness of cost of living support schemes to people living in West Dorset constituency.

To support people in need, we are providing £742 million to extend the Household Support Fund until 31 March 2026 in England. This enables Local Authorities to continue to provide vulnerable households with immediate crisis support towards the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food, and to develop their schemes to help prevent poverty locally and build local resilience. As outlined in the scheme guidance, found on GOV.UK, Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of the guidance and grant determination that the Department for Work and Pensions have set out, having the experience and the relationships to determine how best to support those in their local areas. The guidance states that Authorities must have a website page dedicated to the scheme, and consider inclusive and accessible ways in which they might advertise availability of The Fund to local people. There are no set eligibility requirements, and every Authority must operate part of their scheme on an application basis to allow the opportunity for individuals struggling to ask for further support. Further information on cost of living support can be found on Gov.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on primary care providers in West Dorset constituency.

We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances at the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025. Primary care providers are valued independent contractors. Every year we consult with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. Operating costs for these providers are taken into account as a part of this process.

Whether claimants need to appeal in order to receive transitional protection when they are moved from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit.

Since 2024 the Department has been inviting claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA IR) to make a claim to Universal Credit (UC) within three months in order to maintain their financial support. Those making a UC claim before their deadline, whose circumstances remain the same as those of their ESA claim will be assessed for transitional protection and, where eligible, this will automatically be applied to their Universal Credit award without requiring an appeal although statutory appeal rights are attached to this decision.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure access to cost of living support schemes for people living in West Dorset constituency.

To support people in need, we are providing £742 million to extend the Household Support Fund until 31 March 2026 in England. This enables Local Authorities to continue to provide vulnerable households with immediate crisis support towards the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food, and to develop their schemes to help prevent poverty locally and build local resilience. As outlined in the scheme guidance, found on GOV.UK, Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of the guidance and grant determination that the Department for Work and Pensions have set out, having the experience and the relationships to determine how best to support those in their local areas. The guidance states that Authorities must have a website page dedicated to the scheme, and consider inclusive and accessible ways in which they might advertise availability of The Fund to local people. There are no set eligibility requirements, and every Authority must operate part of their scheme on an application basis to allow the opportunity for individuals struggling to ask for further support. Further information on cost of living support can be found on Gov.UK.

Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to bring forward amended regulations on the permitted distance of air source heat pumps from property boundaries under the Warm Homes Plan.

The relevant regulations were laid on 8 May 2025 and came into force on 29 May 2025. Further details on the changes can be found on gov.uk here.

What steps she is taking to ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in property valuations conducted by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Valuation Office Agency has a statutory duty to maintain fair and accurate lists for Council Tax and business rates purposes. Both the lists, the VOA’s rating manuals, and other technical guidance, including its approach to valuing over 200 types of non-domestic property, are publicly available for transparency on GOV.UK. The VOA also publishes blogs explaining how they assess properties and why they might ask for information from taxpayers to perform their functions. The Government’s business rates reforms will deliver greater transparency on valuations for ratepayers and greater accuracy. By 2026, most ratepayers will be able to access more tailored details about comparable properties and by 2029, more specific valuation information and rental evidence will also be available. The VOA uses internationally recognised valuation methods. It has a robust three-stage assurance framework which maintains and improves the quality of valuations across all areas through assuring adherence to professional standards, legislative obligations and internal processes. It also has a performance target around valuation quality, which it reports on in its annual report and accounts, which are published on GOV.UK. The recent decision to move the Valuation Office Agency’s functions into its parent department (HMRC) by 2026 was taken to increase efficiency, business experience and provide greater ministerial oversight and accountability around delivery.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the budget for nature-friendly farming practices in meeting environmental targets.

In 2025 the Government will publish its review of the 25-year environment improvement plan (EIP), which includes the progress made in achieving the Government's Environment Act targets. The government also publishes annual progress reports setting out delivery towards the EIP. Farming and food security are the foundations of a healthy and resilient economy, local community, and environment. That is why we announced £5 billion for the farming budget over 2024/25 and 2025/26 - the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. In February we committed to a further Capital Grants offer worth £45 million to support nature-friendly farming. There are also over 39,000 live sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which aims for large scale uptake of sustainable farming practices. Defra’s Land management budget will be set for the coming years in the Chancellor’s upcoming spending review. More information on the future budget will be announced in due course.

Whether her Department plans to take steps to apply transitional protections automatically for claimants moving from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit.

Since 2024 the Department has been inviting claimants of income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA IR) to make a claim to Universal Credit (UC) within three months in order to maintain their financial support. Those making a UC claim before their deadline, whose circumstances remain the same as those of their ESA claim will be assessed for transitional protection and, where eligible, this will automatically be applied to their Universal Credit award.

What discussions she has had with Higher Education providers on regional expansion of dental schools to tackle geographic shortages.

​​The department works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on a wide range of matters, to help ensure the NHS has the dentistry workforce that it needs, including funding for dental schools and the training of dental students.Universities are autonomous bodies, independent from government and it is a decision for individual universities to decide whether they wish to establish a dental school.​The government is preparing the 10 Year Health Plan which will set out a bold agenda to reform and repair the NHS. Ensuring that we have the right people, in the right places and with the right skills, will be central to this vision. The government will also publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service that we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.​The department continues to work closely with DHSC on the 10 Year Health Plan.