Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department plans to produce an Integrated Plan for Rail for the South West.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
There are currently no plans to produce an Integrated Plan for Rail for the South West.
However, the Government continues to support rail in the South West, as seen by the recent reopening of the Dartmoor Line from Exeter to Okehampton, and our investment of £120 million in the South West Rail Resilience Programme.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who will benefit from the Farming Investment Fund in West Dorset.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Farming Investment Fund is not geographically targeted. I would encourage farmers, growers, foresters and contractors in all areas, including those in West Dorset, to consider what equipment, technology and infrastructure would most improve their business and to take this opportunity to invest to help their businesses to prosper.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the performance of train services on the Salisbury to Exeter line.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Department officials are challenging South Western Railway (SWR) over the performance of the West of England Line where performance has fallen below the standards required recently. The South Western Railway National Rail Contract contains provisions to incentivise the operator to ensure services are run to the agreed timetable and where this is not the case, actions be taken to rectify any causation factors.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the potential number of jobs that will be created by the contract for the New Medium Helicopter.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
We expect the New Medium Helicopter Procurement to be the subject of Competition. However, at this stage I am not able to comment on the impact of the competition on economic activity or job numbers.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential economic impact of the New Medium Helicopter contract on (a) the South West, (b) Dorset and (c) West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
We expect the New Medium Helicopter Procurement to be the subject of Competition. However, at this stage I am not able to comment on the impact of the competition on economic activity or job numbers.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate she has made of the number of UK jobs created each time the UK signs a new free trade agreement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government publishes scoping assessments to provide a preliminary assessment of a free trade agreement (FTA) in advance of negotiations. Following the conclusion of negotiations, a full Impact Assessment is published.
These set out HM Government’s current assessment of a new FTA, including the impact on wages and composition of employment across sectors.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many services the Church of England has conducted specifically for the purposes of Baptising people seeking asylum in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Selous
Data are not kept on the nationality or migration status of those who seek Baptism. The content of the rite of Baptism remains the same for all.
Clergy are required by canon law to ensure that all who come to Baptism as adults are given appropriate teaching on the tenets of the faith and in encouragement to private spiritual devotion. Therefore, the preparation process may require specific, lengthier input and instruction of some groups of candidates before the clergyperson is confident of the independent faith of each individual.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that booster covid-19 vaccinations are accessible to eligible people in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) Dorset.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The National Health Service is already contacting those who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine, including those in Dorset. Appointments are available via the National Booking System or alternatively through local community pharmacies. General practitioner practices in Dorset are also inviting patients for vaccination when they become eligible for a booster vaccination six months after their second dose.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission the Foods Standards Agency to undertake a survey on methods of slaughter earlier than 2022 as planned.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Defra has been working with the Food Standards Agency on the design of a slaughter survey to take place in February 2022. The timing of the survey has been carefully selected to represent a typical week for the meat processing industry, avoiding religious festivals, and for consistency with the previous survey.
This timescale also reflects the intention to build bespoke data collection and analysis software to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the survey. It is our plan to collect data on a more regular basis in future and the new software will enable us to do this.
Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy have taken their own lives in the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Selous
Records are not held centrally on the causes of death of clergy. The Church of England provides resources for those experiencing stress and signposts to other resources from charities and organisations able to help. Some more information is available here: Supporting clergy health and wellbeing | The Church of England As chief pastors in their dioceses, diocesan bishops ensure pastoral care is available to clergy and is provided when needed.
The Church of England is committed to supporting those individuals and organisations working to help those at risk of self-harm and suicide. At a parish level many clergy play a key role themselves in providing counselling, comfort and support to those at risk. All suicides are tragedies, and whilst causes will vary, the death of any member of the clergy through suicide will be a matter of profound concern and deep sadness for all in the church, their community and all who have a responsibility for their pastoral care.