Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of providing concessionary bus passes on community transport operators in West Dorset.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) applies on eligible local bus services as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Certain community transport services may be eligible for the scheme where they meet the relevant statutory criteria.
The ENCTS currently costs around £795 million annually in reimbursement costs to operators. Any change to the statutory concession or to the services eligible for reimbursement would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
Local authorities in England may also provide discretionary concessions in addition to the statutory ENCTS entitlement, including on community transport services that are not eligible for the ENCTS. Any such concessions are determined and funded locally, taking account of local needs and priorities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department provides to support community transport operators in West Dorset in delivering concessionary bus travel.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is investing in bus services long-term and has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers over the remainder of the Spending Review period.
This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year. Dorset Council will be allocated £12.2 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £3.8 million they received in 2025/26.
Local authorities have discretion over how they use LABG funding to improve services and deliver better services for passengers, which could include support for community transport services and discretionary concessionary travel arrangements where local authorities consider these appropriate.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the benefits of creating a publicly accessible register of community transport operators and community bus routes in England.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Community transport is primarily operated by charities. In England, Wales and Scotland, these organisations can run not-for-profit community services using Transport Act Section 19 and Section 22 permits, so they do not need a Public Service Vehicle Operator’s licence. In Northern Ireland operators can operate under Section 10B permits.
Section 19 permits can be issued by Designated Bodies listed in The Transport Act 1985 Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Community Transport Association issue the greatest number of permits. Designated Bodies may hold their own records of the permits they issue.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of concessionary bus pass reimbursement rates on the viability of community transport services in West Dorset.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the important role that community transport services play in providing access to local services and opportunities, particularly in rural areas, including West Dorset.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) applies on eligible local bus services as defined in concessionary travel legislation. Certain community transport services may be eligible for the scheme where they meet the relevant statutory criteria. Under the ENCTS, operators are reimbursed by Travel Concession Authorities on a ‘no better, no worse off’ basis for concessionary travel, so that operators should be left financially neutral as a result of carrying concessionary pass holders.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average time taken by Ofsted to determine applications for registration as a supported accommodation provider has been since October 2023.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
These are matters for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications for registration as a supported accommodation provider are awaiting allocation to an Ofsted inspector.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
These are matters for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to introduce separate market (a) mechanisms and (b) quotas for engineered greenhouse gas removals within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In its July 2025 Authority Response, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority set out the market design for integrating engineered greenhouse gas removals into the UK ETS. For initial integration, it set out that one fewer emissions allowance will be auctioned for every removal allowance issued, maintaining total allowance supply and the scheme’s ambition. Further technical design will be consulted on in due course.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in the registration of supported accommodation providers on the availability of placements for care-experienced young people in West Dorset.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ofsted has seen increasing application volumes across children's social care. As of 31 March 2026, there were 370 ongoing applications from supported accommodation providers, down from 616 in the previous year. The registered supported accommodation sector grew by 37% in the year to 31 March 2026 with available capacity at 24,700 places, far exceeding the 7,520 looked after children living in supported accommodation. Published data does not indicate a lack of registered accommodation in the South West. In March 2026, places in registered providers in this region totalled 1,970.
Ofsted’s updated registration policy makes clear that, due to high demand, it is likely to take several months to reach a decision, with timescales affected by some factors outside Ofsted's control, such as incomplete applications. While Ofsted has introduced a prioritisation policy for new children's home applications, no such policy currently applies to supported accommodation, although this remains under review.
Ofsted registration is essential to ensure the appropriate safeguards and support are in place to keep children safe. Regulations do not require care leavers over the age of 18 to be accommodated in Ofsted regulated provision, though some care leavers will benefit from being in regulated provision. The government recently published a review of early deaths of care experienced young people and are working to deliver a programme of improved support for care leavers.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure the registration process for supported accommodation providers has adequate capacity to meet demand and avoid future backlogs.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ofsted has seen increasing application volumes across children's social care. As of 31 March 2026, there were 370 ongoing applications from supported accommodation providers, down from 616 in the previous year. The registered supported accommodation sector grew by 37% in the year to 31 March 2026 with available capacity at 24,700 places, far exceeding the 7,520 looked after children living in supported accommodation. Published data does not indicate a lack of registered accommodation in the South West. In March 2026, places in registered providers in this region totalled 1,970.
Ofsted’s updated registration policy makes clear that, due to high demand, it is likely to take several months to reach a decision, with timescales affected by some factors outside Ofsted's control, such as incomplete applications. While Ofsted has introduced a prioritisation policy for new children's home applications, no such policy currently applies to supported accommodation, although this remains under review.
Ofsted registration is essential to ensure the appropriate safeguards and support are in place to keep children safe. Regulations do not require care leavers over the age of 18 to be accommodated in Ofsted regulated provision, though some care leavers will benefit from being in regulated provision. The government recently published a review of early deaths of care experienced young people and are working to deliver a programme of improved support for care leavers.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing interim arrangements to allow supported accommodation providers with complete registration applications to operate, subject to appropriate safeguards, while awaiting inspection and registration.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ofsted has seen increasing application volumes across children's social care. As of 31 March 2026, there were 370 ongoing applications from supported accommodation providers, down from 616 in the previous year. The registered supported accommodation sector grew by 37% in the year to 31 March 2026 with available capacity at 24,700 places, far exceeding the 7,520 looked after children living in supported accommodation. Published data does not indicate a lack of registered accommodation in the South West. In March 2026, places in registered providers in this region totalled 1,970.
Ofsted’s updated registration policy makes clear that, due to high demand, it is likely to take several months to reach a decision, with timescales affected by some factors outside Ofsted's control, such as incomplete applications. While Ofsted has introduced a prioritisation policy for new children's home applications, no such policy currently applies to supported accommodation, although this remains under review.
Ofsted registration is essential to ensure the appropriate safeguards and support are in place to keep children safe. Regulations do not require care leavers over the age of 18 to be accommodated in Ofsted regulated provision, though some care leavers will benefit from being in regulated provision. The government recently published a review of early deaths of care experienced young people and are working to deliver a programme of improved support for care leavers.