Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of rail connectivity for rural constituencies such as West Dorset.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not routinely assess the adequacy of rail connectivity on a constituency-by-constituency basis. However, the Department considers connectivity impacts as part of its wider appraisal of rail services and infrastructure investment.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of fire service coverage in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The government provides support to Fire and Rescue Authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement and wider reform programme. In 2026/27, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power (CSP) of £79.5 million, an increase of 4.1 % compared to 2025/26.
Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for making decisions on the deployment of their resources, including fire station provision, based on their assessment of local risk. Each authority is required to produce a Community Risk Management Plan, which sets out how it will assess and respond to risks in its area and ensure appropriate fire and rescue cover for local communities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to prevent fire station closures in West Dorset.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The government provides support to Fire and Rescue Authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement and wider reform programme. In 2026/27, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power (CSP) of £79.5 million, an increase of 4.1 % compared to 2025/26.
Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for making decisions on the deployment of their resources, including fire station provision, based on their assessment of local risk. Each authority is required to produce a Community Risk Management Plan, which sets out how it will assess and respond to risks in its area and ensure appropriate fire and rescue cover for local communities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The government provides support to Fire and Rescue Authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement and wider reform programme. In 2026/27, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power (CSP) of £79.5 million, an increase of 4.1 % compared to 2025/26.
Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for making decisions on the deployment of their resources, including fire station provision, based on their assessment of local risk. Each authority is required to produce a Community Risk Management Plan, which sets out how it will assess and respond to risks in its area and ensure appropriate fire and rescue cover for local communities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of automatic planning permission for extending helipad operation hours at major trauma hospitals.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 73716 on 15 September 2025.