Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for dyslexia assessments in (a) Yeovil, (b) Somerset and (c) the South West.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data on waiting times for dyslexia assessments is not held centrally. Assessments for dyslexia in children are provided by an educational psychologist or an appropriately qualified specialist dyslexia teacher. If a parent thinks their child may be dyslexic, as a first step they should speak to their child’s teacher or their school's special educational needs co-ordinator about their concerns. They may be able to offer additional support to help the child if necessary. Further information on dyslexia assessments can be found on the NHS.UK website, at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dyslexia/diagnosis/
The early identification of needs and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including those with dyslexia. There are already a number of measures to help teachers do this, including the phonics screening check and the statutory assessments at the end of key stage two.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20867 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the introduction into service of the New Medium Helicopter will be brought forward in light of the commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The progress of the New Medium Helicopter programme is not affected by the commitment to spend 2.5% GDP on defence by 2027.
There are no plans to change the extant New Medium Helicopter competition which started on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Aribus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.
The Ministry of Defence is continuing with the established procurement process, managed by Defence Equipment and Suport, and the proposal will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award is anticipated.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role UK-based suppliers of (a) defence and (b) security equipment will have in reaching the target of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government recognises the vital role the UK defence industry plays not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the UK.
Our industry partners, of all sizes, are very much at the heart of our One Defence approach. The Defence Industrial Strategy will align our security and economic priorities to boost the prosperity of our people across the country, provide resilience for the UK, and ensure the credibility of our deterrence. We will ensure a strong defence sector and resilient supply chains across the whole of the UK.
The investment in defence announced by the Prime Minister on 25 February 2025 will protect UK citizens from threats and create a secure and stable environment in which businesses of all sizes can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth. The new Defence Industrial Strategy will set out how UK-based suppliers will support both our national security and economic prosperity when it is published later this year.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential risks of building on flood-prone land in (a) Somerset and (b) the South West.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.
The Government has committed to ensure we are building more high-quality, well-designed and sustainable homes and creating places that increase climate resilience and promote nature recovery. Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Where development is necessary, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, local planning authorities and developers should ensure development is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, safe for its users for the development’s lifetime, will not increase flood risk overall and will provide wider sustainability benefits.
The Government published a revised NPPF in December 2024. This clarified how the sequential test should be applied to development in areas of flood risk and encouraged the use of sustainable drainage systems in new development. The Government will consider whether further changes are required to manage flood risk, coastal change and sustainable drainage systems provision through the planning system when we consult on further planning reform, including a set of national policies related to decision making, this spring.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help protect houses built on flood prone land in South Somerset.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.
The Government has committed to ensure we are building more high-quality, well-designed and sustainable homes and creating places that increase climate resilience and promote nature recovery. Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Where development is necessary, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, local planning authorities and developers should ensure development is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, safe for its users for the development’s lifetime, will not increase flood risk overall and will provide wider sustainability benefits.
The Government published a revised NPPF in December 2024. This clarified how the sequential test should be applied to development in areas of flood risk and encouraged the use of sustainable drainage systems in new development. The Government will consider whether further changes are required to manage flood risk, coastal change and sustainable drainage systems provision through the planning system when we consult on further planning reform, including a set of national policies related to decision making, this spring.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support Government has provided (a) before, (b) during and (c) after flooding instances in (i) Somerset and (ii) the South West.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.
Defra works with National Resilience, part of the Home Office, to maintain the Flood Rescue National Asset Register, a list of over 100 teams from the Fire and Rescue Service and voluntary organisations with boats and other assets and who are available for national deployment in England, through Local Resilience Forum (LRF) coordination
Government recovery support after flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. The recent flooding impact did not trigger the Flood Recovery Framework or Property Flood Resilience Grant. For context, the framework was activated after storms Babet (October 2023) and Henk (January 2024), affecting over 8,500 homes and businesses.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of water treatment facilities in managing excess water and flooding in South Somerset.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs) are new and vital for setting out how the water industry plans to extend, improve and maintain a robust and resilient drainage and wastewater system in the face of pressures from climate change, urban development and a growing population. Wessex Water's DWMP sets out how they plan to deliver this for the next 25 years. They will be updating this plan shortly and will consult publicly. The Environment Agency is working with OFWAT and Defra to ensure these plans deliver.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether his Department has plans to prioritise awarding contracts to domestic suppliers of defence and security equipment.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Through the Defence Industrial Strategy, we will examine how to prioritise and promote UK based businesses for defence investment without losing the benefits of competition, including in those areas of the defence sector that present the greatest opportunities for UK economic growth and competitive advantage. We will also reform procurement to reduce waste and support industry to seize export opportunities.
The government has been clear that it will use the additional investment in defence announced by the Prime Minister on 25 February 2025 to maximise jobs, growth, skills and innovation in the UK. This investment in defence will protect UK citizens from threats and create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether he has plans to ring fence spending on (a) international vaccine distribution and (b) disease prevention, in the context of the proposed decrease in official development assistance by 2027.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is one of the largest donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We have committed £1.65 billion to the current strategic period covering 2021-2025. This funding has enabled Gavi - in partnership with countries - to vaccinate over a billion children saving over 17 million lives. While we will of course face tough choices resulting from the reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA) available in the coming years, this government remains fully committed to a globally significant role on development. It is both in our national interest and in the interest of our partners across the globe. As part of the UK Spending Review, which will be completed in June, we are assessing how the UK can have the greatest impact with all of our global health investments in the round. Announcements will be made following the completion of the review.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to ensure (a) Wessex Water and (b) Environment Agency impact surveys are considered in new planning decisions in Somerset.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee in the planning system, while water companies can comment on relevant planning applications.
By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This means that where relevant planning matters are raised, including as a result of surveys, the local planning authority should take them into account when making decisions.
The National Planning Policy Framework includes strict policies to prevent inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. Where these tests cannot be met, development should not be approved.