Written questions by Morello.

What steps he is taking to improve adult attendance at NHS dental services in West Dorset constituency.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service 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 and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the West Dorset constituency, this is the NHS Dorset ICB.

Whether his Department plans to review the system of financial penalties imposed on NHS trusts for health and safety breaches.

Enforcement is one of the core components of the operating model that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uses to achieve its purpose and perform its role, to improve health and adult social care services and protect the health, safety and welfare of people who use them. The CQC monitors and assesses service providers against the fundamental standards of quality and safety. Failure to comply with the standards and make improvements, could result in enforcement action by the CQC.The current system of penalties imposed on National Health Service trusts for health and safety breaches is defined by law. The Department has not made any assessments of other models and, therefore, has no plans to review this.

What assessment his Department has made of potential alternative models to financial penalties for NHS trusts that (a) do not diminish frontline patient care and (b) improve affected local services.

Enforcement is one of the core components of the operating model that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uses to achieve its purpose and perform its role, to improve health and adult social care services and protect the health, safety and welfare of people who use them. The CQC monitors and assesses service providers against the fundamental standards of quality and safety. Failure to comply with the standards and make improvements, could result in enforcement action by the CQC.The current system of penalties imposed on National Health Service trusts for health and safety breaches is defined by law. The Department has not made any assessments of other models and, therefore, has no plans to review this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate access to low-interest loans for agribusinesses investing in sustainable technologies.

Previous support has been offered primarily in the form of grants. For example, the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund (FETF) has helped ensure technologies supporting both productivity and sustainability can be adopted by UK farmers. We are looking to explore alternative means to improve access to finance for both the development and adoption of new agri-technologies, including opportunities to collaborate with public finance institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what initiatives are in place to support farmers in reducing nutrient run-off into waterways to protect aquatic ecosystems.

The levels of pollution in our waterways are unacceptable. We are working with farmers through a suite of measures to reduce agricultural pollution and protect our waters. We regulate the agricultural activities that could cause environmental harms and require farmers to take steps to reduce and prevent diffuse pollution. The EA have checked compliance against the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Pollution (England) Regulations 2018. All the actions the EA requires from farmers will result in a reduction of diffuse pollution, through run-off or leaching, whether this is from investment in slurry storage to regulating herd density in a nitrate vulnerable zone. The Catchment Sensitive Farming programme provides farmers one-to-one advice about how to produce food in a way that protects water and the wider environment. The EA’s advice led regulatory approach has produced excellent results, however regulatory powers are used when required. Where farmers want to go further, Environmental Land Management schemes pay them for the delivery of environmental benefits that include activities to improve water quality.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding is available for farmers to implement (a) buffer zones and (b) other measures aimed at preventing agricultural pollutants from entering rivers.

Levels of water pollution are unacceptable, and water pollution is a crime. We are working with farmers through a suite of measures to reduce agricultural pollution. Defra’s Environmental Land Management schemes pay farmers for the delivery of environmental benefits, including improved water quality. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for actions that will improve the water environment by reducing runoff and erosion, maintaining soil cover and creating buffer strips and margins. There are 35,000 active SFI agreements in England. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) pays farmers, land managers and foresters for more locally-targeted actions relating to specific locations, features and habitats. In December we published details of the improved CSHT offer, which includes several new actions to improve water quality. We will be opening up CSHT for new applications in the summer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the (a) development and (b) deployment of vaccines for bovine diseases in the last 12 months.

Defra continues to invest in bovine disease research, and we continue to monitor the current situation and vaccine usage both in Europe and globally for both exotic and endemic diseases. Defra, in conjunction with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), will continue to monitor the development and availability of vaccines for their utility in preventing and responding to disease outbreaks as they are put forward for market authorisation by vaccine manufacturers. To support this work Defra has established cross-Government and industry taskforces focusing on avian influenza and bluetongue. The avian influenza vaccination taskforce published an initial statement on 7 March 2025 and will publish their report this summer. While the avian influenza vaccination taskforce focus is on poultry, they are also alert to the ongoing outbreak in cattle in the USA of influenza of avian origin. The Government maintains a vaccine bank for foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease, exotic diseases affecting cattle. Defra has also engaged with manufacturers on supply of vaccines to the UK market for bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). Following this engagement, and assessment of vaccines by the VMD, Defra’s Secretary of State permitted the use of three unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines for use in England since September 2024, giving keepers the choice to protect their animals. A cattle vaccine for bovine TB is in development. The CattleBCG vaccine, when coupled with the new Detect Infected amongst Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) skin test, represents a significant advancement in bovine TB control for cattle herds. Field trials began in June 2021 and are on-going. An injectable BCG vaccine for badgers has been licensed since 2010 and is proven to significantly reduce the risk of infection and spread of bovine TB within badger populations. The number of badgers vaccinated continues to rise in England, with preliminary figures suggesting around 4,000 were vaccinated in 2024. This is the highest number ever vaccinated in England in a single year, exceeding the record set in 2023. In August 2024, the government announced steps to continue increasing vaccination deployment and to analyse the effect of badger vaccination on the incidence of TB in cattle. This includes establishing a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support schemes are available to assist small and medium-sized agribusinesses in expanding their operations.

Defra has committed £1.8 billion, the largest figure ever, to Environmental Land Management schemes in 2025/26, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive. These schemes offer funding streams for farmers who have been often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted, whilst improving our natural environment, and supporting sustainable growth and resilient food production. We are on track to spend that money. Defra also supports agri-tech innovation and almost £150 million has been committed to projects to date, of which over £84 million has been committed to small businesses. The Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies Fund (ADOPT), launching this spring, will also provide innovation grants for farmers and farm businesses to trial and demonstrate new technology, which will help to create demand to support agri-businesses to expand. We are also looking to explore other means to improve access to finance to drive agribusiness development, including opportunities to collaborate with public finance institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on the (a) allocation and (b) accessibility of funding to support farmers to transition to Environmental Land Management schemes; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of transitional funding supporting farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

In the October 2024 budget, we committed £5 billion for farming over two years, including £1.8 billion for our environmental land management (ELM) schemes - the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. ELM schemes remain at the centre of our offer for farmers and nature, and we have more than half of farmers in an ELM scheme, putting us on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector. Evaluation has shown that improvements like the simplified Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application process have reduced barriers to scheme access. Clearly stated requirements and proportionate, regular payments are also viewed positively by participants. With uptake of SFI meeting expectations, ongoing evaluation will ensure we understand and address any further barriers to participation. We are aware of challenges for some farmers trying to move from existing Higher Level Stewardship agreements to new SFI agreements and are working to resolve this over time. We publish regular statistics on farm income in England and other data related to farm businesses. For example, on 14 November 2024, we published our Farm Business Income statistics (Farm business income - GOV.UK), which looked at how farm business income has changed in 2023/24, including the contribution of Direct Payments and agri-environment payments to farm incomes. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance (Farming statistics evidence packs - GOV.UK). These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK. We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to support farmers' mental health.

At the budget we committed £5 billion to farming over the next two years which will see the biggest ever budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in our country’s history. We also committed £60 million through the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by unprecedented extreme wet weather last winter. More specifically, Defra has set up a dedicated team to look at the particular set of issues driving poor mental health outcomes in the farming and agricultural sector. We will be working in consultation with communities, farming support organisations and experts across the Government to review how we can best support those experiencing poor mental health. Furthermore, the Government is building a national network of Young Futures hubs, which will be present in every community and will deliver support for young people facing mental health challenges. Finally, the Government is giving mental health the same attention and focus as physical health through measures such as employing 8,500 new mental health support workers. This will reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to people’s homes.

What steps her Department is taking to consult with disability advocacy groups on the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment, including any changes to payment methods.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do. We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term. We are working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that any proposed changes to PIP do not lead to financial hardship or reduced quality of life for recipients.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do. We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term. We are working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) existing and (b) the creation of new local abattoirs.

The Government firmly believes that food security is national security and is committed to maintaining a resilient food supply chain. Defra recognises the vital contribution a thriving abattoir network plays in achieving this goal. We remain committed to working with abattoirs of all sizes across the UK’s meat processing sector in tackling the challenges and opportunities they face.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of replacing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash payments with vouchers on claimants' autonomy and financial management.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do. We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term. We are working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment on disabled individuals' ability to manage their financial independence.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do. We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term. We are working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year.

What steps his Department is taking to provide additional funding to ICBs.

At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over 2024/25 and 2025/26. The recently published recurrent integrated care board core allocations will grow by 4.1% in 2025/26, compared to 2024/25. These growths exclude funding allocations that are made after convergence, including additional elective funding and transfers in from the Service Development Fund, which are treated separately.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26669 on Dental Services: Rural Areas and to the pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26670 on Dental Services: Rural Areas, what guidance his Department provides to Integrated Care Boards on the commissioning of dental vans.

Since 1 April 2023, the responsibility for commissioning primary care, including dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.NHS England supports ICBs with their local commissioning responsibilities for primary dental services with the provision of nationally agreed policies and procedures. NHS England has also published guidance to support commissioners to take advantage of the opportunities offered to commission further and additional services through flexible commissioning, which enables the responsible commissioner to tailor services to meet local population oral health needs. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/opportunities-for-flexible-commissioning-in-primary-care-dentistry-a-framework-for-commissioners/

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the full farming budget is allocated to frontline agricultural support and does not result in a real-terms funding reduction for farmers.

In the October 2024 budget, we committed £5 billion for farming over two years, including £1.8 billion for our environmental land management schemes - the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes remain at the centre of our offer for farmers and nature, and we have more than half of farmers in an ELM scheme, putting us on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector. Spending on farming in future financial years will be confirmed as part of the next spending review.

With reference to paragraph 5.91 of the Autumn Budget 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reclassification of double cab pick-ups with a payload of one tonne or more as cars for tax purposes on farmers from April 2025.

Following recent case law, Double Cab Pick Ups must be treated as cars, rather than goods vehicles, for certain tax purposes, based on their primary suitability. The government will not legislate to treat DCPUs as goods vehicles as this would depart from the broader principles underpinning the Court of Appeal’s judgement, and be a significant tax break worth hundreds of millions per year.As per paragraph 5.91, this will not affect the capital allowances treatment of anyone who already owns a DCPU; anyone who purchases a DCPU before April 2025 will still benefit from the previous tax treatment. For Benefit in Kind, anyone who has accessed a DCPU as a company car before April 2025 will not be impacted until the sooner of disposal of the vehicle, April 2029 or when their lease expires; and employers that have purchased, leased, or ordered a DCPU before 6 April 2025 will also be able to benefit from the previous treatment, until the earlier of disposal, April 2029, or when the lease expires.There are alternatives available to farmers, which provide the same off-road and haulage capabilities and are still treated as goods vehicles, such as single cab pick-ups and 4 x 4 vans.

Whether her Department has taken steps to support farmers who have diversified into holiday accommodations to mitigate the potential financial impact of changes to the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime.

The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lets (FHL) tax regime from April 2025. This will equalises the tax treatment of FHL and non-FHL landlords’ income and gains, making the tax system fairer.Tax reliefs will still be available to landlords, including farmers, who provide furnished holiday letting services, including mortgage interest relief at 20 per cent and relief for the replacement of domestic items. These reliefs will be at the same level as those available to landlords who provide long-term residential lets.Individual landlords can also benefit from the income tax Personal Allowance, which is the amount of income that can be earned before income tax is paid (£12,570 in 2024-25).