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 discussions he has had with Dorset Council and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service on preventing and responding to wildfires in West Dorset.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fire and rescue services have been responding to an exceptionally challenging period of wildfire activity, with multiple significant incidents being managed simultaneously across England and Wales. The Government has taken action to reduce the risk of wildfires igniting, such as the temporary ban on disposable BBQs.
This year, we have made available almost £1.95 billion to standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. It is for each fire and rescue authority to decide how best to use that funding, based on local risk.
Defra funding schemes will continue to support land managers to adapt to increasing wildfire risk. This includes practical measures to reduce fire spread and severity, improve access and preparedness for firefighting, and strengthen resilience while also supporting nature and climate objectives. It also includes support for landscape-scale action to reduce wildfire risk and increase resilience.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has recently announced a £97 million investment to upgrade National Resilience assets and equipment. Part of this funding includes a pilot for a national wildfire response capability with specialist firefighters, equipment and training.
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 his Department is providing to local authorities, fire and rescue services and land managers to reduce the risk of wildfires in West Dorset.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fire and rescue services have been responding to an exceptionally challenging period of wildfire activity, with multiple significant incidents being managed simultaneously across England and Wales. The Government has taken action to reduce the risk of wildfires igniting, such as the temporary ban on disposable BBQs.
This year, we have made available almost £1.95 billion to standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. It is for each fire and rescue authority to decide how best to use that funding, based on local risk.
Defra funding schemes will continue to support land managers to adapt to increasing wildfire risk. This includes practical measures to reduce fire spread and severity, improve access and preparedness for firefighting, and strengthen resilience while also supporting nature and climate objectives. It also includes support for landscape-scale action to reduce wildfire risk and increase resilience.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has recently announced a £97 million investment to upgrade National Resilience assets and equipment. Part of this funding includes a pilot for a national wildfire response capability with specialist firefighters, equipment and training.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the experience of constituents in West Dorset using the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to resolve complaints against public bodies.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is an independent body, accountable to Parliament. The work and performance of the PHSO is scrutinised by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Where complainants in West Dorset, as well as all regions of the country, are dissatisfied with decisions made by the PHSO they are entitled to understand how those decisions were reached. The PHSO’s Service Charter includes the commitment to explain its decisions and recommendations and how it reached them.
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, whether she plans to provide additional funding to fire and rescue services in areas at high risk of wildfires to increase specialist personnel, equipment and operational capacity.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Local Government Finance Settlement made available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England. We work closely with fire and rescue services to ensure they can prepare for and manage local risks. Decisions on how fire and rescue authorities use their resources and equipment to meet those risks are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
We’re investing nearly £100 million in the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, part of which includes more specialist equipment and wildfire training for firefighters that can deploy nationally to support in wildfires across the country.
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, whether she plans to provide additional funding to fire and rescue services for specialist wildfire personal protective equipment.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Local Government Finance Settlement made available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England. We work closely with fire and rescue services to ensure they can prepare for and manage local risks. Decisions on how fire and rescue authorities use their resources and equipment to meet those risks are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
We’re investing nearly £100 million in the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, part of which includes more specialist equipment and wildfire training for firefighters that can deploy nationally to support in wildfires across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many individuals have been shortlisted for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2000 but were not subsequently appointed.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold information on individuals who were considered for appointment but not subsequently appointed over the period specified.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what process is used to shortlist and assess candidates for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Appointment processes vary according to the role concerned. Ambassadorial and High Commissioner appointments are made by His Majesty on the recommendation of Foreign Secretary under the Royal Prerogative. Candidates are assessed against the requirements of the post including skills, experience and relevant experience needed to undertake the role successfully. Most appointees are members of the Diplomatic Service, although appointments may also be made from outside the Diplomatic Service.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reasons individuals shortlisted for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2000 were not subsequently appointed.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not maintain records of individuals who were considered for appointment but were not subsequently appointed over the period specified.