Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of increasing incentive grants to offset higher employer contributions under the revised apprenticeship funding rules.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As we introduce new products, such as apprenticeship units and foundation apprenticeships, we are also simplifying the Growth and Skills Levy, improving its transparency and making it more efficient.
From August, we are changing the employer’s co-investment rate from 5% to 25% for levy-paying employers once they have exhausted all their levy funds. Levy-paying employers will still be able to benefit from a very generous 75% government contribution once their funds are exhausted, but it is right that employers who utilise all their levy funds contribute more to apprenticeship training and assessment. This will support greater employer investment in skills overall and ensure funding is available to roll out further flexibility for business and increase opportunities for young people.
We have undertaken extensive engagement with businesses and other key stakeholders in the design of these reforms and will continue to work closely with key partners as we develop the detail of any planned changes
To support employers of all sizes to take on apprentices the government pays £1,000 to both employers and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships. Additionally, employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).
The government is also supporting non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) meet the additional costs of taking on young people by introducing a new £2,000 incentive payment when they hire apprentices under the aged of 25 as new employees.
We will carefully monitor the impact of these changes once they take effect.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has consulted levy-paying employers on the potential impact of the revised co-investment rates on future apprenticeship recruitment decisions.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As we introduce new products, such as apprenticeship units and foundation apprenticeships, we are also simplifying the Growth and Skills Levy, improving its transparency and making it more efficient.
From August, we are changing the employer’s co-investment rate from 5% to 25% for levy-paying employers once they have exhausted all their levy funds. Levy-paying employers will still be able to benefit from a very generous 75% government contribution once their funds are exhausted, but it is right that employers who utilise all their levy funds contribute more to apprenticeship training and assessment. This will support greater employer investment in skills overall and ensure funding is available to roll out further flexibility for business and increase opportunities for young people.
We have undertaken extensive engagement with businesses and other key stakeholders in the design of these reforms and will continue to work closely with key partners as we develop the detail of any planned changes
To support employers of all sizes to take on apprentices the government pays £1,000 to both employers and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships. Additionally, employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).
The government is also supporting non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) meet the additional costs of taking on young people by introducing a new £2,000 incentive payment when they hire apprentices under the aged of 25 as new employees.
We will carefully monitor the impact of these changes once they take effect.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - 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 support her Department provides to communities affected by flooding in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra provides a wide range of support to rural communities affected by flooding. Typically, in response to flooding there will be a multi-partner strategic command, at which the Environment Agency (EA) and Dorset Council play a lead coordination role. The Department also funds long term resilience measures, including individual property flood resilience.
During the recent flooding, the EA launched a new bespoke online engagement site for Dorset to give clear guidance, real time updates, and recovery support for communities facing groundwater impacts. The EA operates and maintains several flood alleviation schemes across West Dorset and has planned engagement events for Spring/Summer 2026 with professional partners to help strengthen community resilience.
Across England, Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences. This record investment will benefit nearly 900,000 properties over ten years.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - 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 assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased riparian ownership on the recent flooding in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are not aware of an increase or change in riparian ownership within West Dorset. The riparian rights and responsibilities, including duties to maintain watercourses, will remain unchanged even if there is a change in landownership.
The recent flooding was caused by meteorological and hydrological factors rather than land ownership. The primary causes were exceptionally high rainfall, 55mm in 24 hours in Storm Chandra, and saturated ground conditions as January was the second wettest since 1871. These conditions led to watercourses exceeding capacity and local drainage systems becoming overwhelmed, as well as rapidly rising and prolonged high groundwater levels.
The Environment Agency continues to work with Dorset Council, landowners and local communities to ensure responsibilities are understood and that watercourses are maintained appropriately. This collaborative approach supports long-term resilience and helps reduce flood risk across rural communities in West Dorset.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - 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 assessment she has made of the causes of recent flooding in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The recent flooding in West Dorset was caused by a combination of exceptionally high rainfall totals, leading to saturated ground conditions. January was the second-wettest winter on record since 1871. Groundwater levels across the county rose significantly, leading to flooding of low-lying land, roads and some properties as the water table exceeded normal winter levels.
When significant flooding occurs Dorset Council produce Section 19 flood reports investigating the flooding issues experienced. The Environment Agency (EA) will provide information and evidence for these reports, including assessment of impacts on its assets. When there are impacts, the EA will undertake work to restore them to required condition as soon as possible.
The EA is working with Dorset Council, including the Dorset Rural Runoff project, to improve understanding of the causes of flooding and look for potential interventions to reduce the impacts of this type of flood event.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - 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 steps her Department is taking to improve flood resilience in rural constituencies such as West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency (EA) has planned engagement events with professional partners across Dorset for Spring/Summer 2026 to promote individual and community resilience. The EA works closely with Dorset Council, parish councils and flood wardens to raise awareness, share guidance and strengthen community-level resilience across the highest-risk rural areas.
The EA is delivering the Government’s flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) Investment Programme, investing £2.65 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26 to better protect 52,000 properties. A new 3-year £4.2 billion FCRM Investment Programme will start in April 2026, allocating investment where flood and coastal risk and vulnerability are greatest, using the Government’s new funding rules. This week the EA published information on schemes that will receive funding for the first year of the new Programme, between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.
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, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent increases in domestic heating oil prices on people living in rural areas including West Dorset.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.
The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK.
In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.
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, what steps his Department is taking to support households reliant on heating oil in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) rural constituencies.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.
The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK.
In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.
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, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a national energy debt relief scheme on energy affordability and consumer protection.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not.
In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support.
This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.
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, what progress his Department has made on (a) developing and (b) implementing a debt relief scheme for households experiencing energy debt.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not.
In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support.
This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.