Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for unpaid carers to claim respite breaks in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.

The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.

We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers, who provide vital care and support.

In addition, through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care on bringing forward the deadline for reporting on each phase of the commission's work.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Independent Commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, launched in April, and has already begun its work on how to build an adult social care system fit for the future.

The commission is independent and Baroness Casey has the autonomy to decide when it reports within the timelines set out in the published terms of reference. The first report will be published next year, with the second due by 2028 at the latest.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make capital funding available to arts centres for regular inspections on building conditions.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is working closely with the sector to understand the needs of arts centres, which are integral to communities up and down the country. Through sector engagement, as well as the recent Arup and Future Arts Centres report, Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK, we are aware that arts centres are facing challenges with their estates.

The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. An important part of this government’s growth mission, this fund aims to strengthen the long-term economic viability of the creative and cultural industries. The fund will support organisations to continue delivering creative or cultural activity, support growth and increase opportunities to develop creative skills and engage in high-quality creative work.

Arts centres that meet other eligibility criteria will be eligible to apply for the fund. This fund will offer vital support to prevent the closure of operating cultural spaces and the potential irrevocable loss to local communities and economies. However, inspections on building conditions are excluded from the CFF. Full eligibility details in the guidance can be found on ACE’s website.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the long-term financial sustainability of arts centres.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is working closely with the sector to understand the needs of arts centres, which are integral to communities up and down the country. Through sector engagement, as well as the recent Arup and Future Arts Centres report, Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK, we are aware that arts centres are facing challenges with their estates.

The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. An important part of this government’s growth mission, this fund aims to strengthen the long-term economic viability of the creative and cultural industries. The fund will support organisations to continue delivering creative or cultural activity, support growth and increase opportunities to develop creative skills and engage in high-quality creative work.

Arts centres that meet other eligibility criteria will be eligible to apply for the fund. This fund will offer vital support to prevent the closure of operating cultural spaces and the potential irrevocable loss to local communities and economies. However, inspections on building conditions are excluded from the CFF. Full eligibility details in the guidance can be found on ACE’s website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to introduce free personal care for (a) elderly and (b) disabled residents in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authorities have the power to charge for care, and it is for them to decide whether to do so. Two local authorities in England currently offer free home care to their residents.

Where local authorities do choose to charge for care, they must do so in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, and they must act under the Care and Support Statutory guidance.

We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.

The commission, which began work in April 2025, will be comprehensive and will build on the expert proposals of other reviews, including that of Sir Andrew Dilnot into care funding and support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many overheating incidents have been logged in NHS hospitals in West Dorset constituency in each of the last five years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on overheating incidents is collected as part of the Estates Return Information Collection, and is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

The following table shows how many overheating incidents have been logged in National Health Service hospitals in the South West in each of the last five years:

Source: Estates Returns Information Collection dataset, published January 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many overheating incidents have been logged in NHS hospitals in the South West in each of the last five years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on overheating incidents is collected as part of the Estates Return Information Collection, and is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

The following table shows how many overheating incidents have been logged in National Health Service hospitals in the South West in each of the last five years:

Source: Estates Returns Information Collection dataset, published January 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of merging of integrated care boards on (a) Dorset and (b) other rural areas.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No mergers involving the seven integrated care boards (ICBs) in the South West NHS England footprint have been approved.

The Dorset ICB, the Somerset ICB, and the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB are preparing to ‘cluster’ by April 2026, and this will see increased joint working across the three ICBs to achieve the running cost reductions for ICBs announced by the Department. Formal approval for the merger of ICB footprints will not be given before a comprehensive assessment of the local circumstances and rationale. Our commitment to coterminous boundaries wherever possible will be at the forefront of our decision-making.

As part of cluster preparation arrangements, every ICB will complete an Equality Impact Assessment, which will consider the footprint population and the impact of the changes to ICB working arrangements.

ICBs and regional leaders assessed potential clustering arrangements using the design criteria.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to review pharmacy procurement practices for generic cancer drugs in rural areas.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has no current plans to specifically review pharmacy procurement practices for generic cancer drugs in rural areas. Pharmacies are largely private businesses which provide National Health Services, and therefore have their own buying arrangements.

The Government’s policy on generic medicines is to allow suppliers freedom of pricing for their products, relying on competition between suppliers and efficient purchasing by community pharmacies to deliver value for money for the NHS.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national body for special educational needs and disabilities to ensure consistency of support across local authorities.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department is aware of the challenges in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, and we understand how urgently we need to address these. We do not, however, believe that what the SEND system needs is another body which would add to the bureaucracy in the system. Our focus is on making the system less bureaucratic and getting support to children and young people who need it, quickly and efficiently.

Details of the government's intended approach to SEND reform will be set out in a White Paper in the autumn.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will hold cross-party discussions on the potential establishment of a national body for special educational needs and disabilities.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department is aware of the challenges in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, and we understand how urgently we need to address these. We do not, however, believe that what the SEND system needs is another body which would add to the bureaucracy in the system. Our focus is on making the system less bureaucratic and getting support to children and young people who need it, quickly and efficiently.

Details of the government's intended approach to SEND reform will be set out in a White Paper in the autumn.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is developing proposals for the creation of a national body for special educational needs and disabilities.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department is aware of the challenges in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, and we understand how urgently we need to address these. We do not, however, believe that what the SEND system needs is another body which would add to the bureaucracy in the system. Our focus is on making the system less bureaucratic and getting support to children and young people who need it, quickly and efficiently.

Details of the government's intended approach to SEND reform will be set out in a White Paper in the autumn.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of a Royal College of Care Workers to support rural care staff in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has no current plans to introduce a Royal College of Care. The Government is committed to transforming adult social care to create a National Care Service and to improving the lives of people drawing on care, unpaid carers, and the social care workforce. We have also launched an independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Casey, as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission's Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable Baroness Casey to define its remit to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chair of the independent commission into adult social care on progress to completing the first stage in 2026.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Independent Commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, has begun its work on how to build a social care system fit for the future, and will first report in 2026.

The commission is independent, and Baroness Casey has the autonomy to decide when in 2026 she reports, and to define her own engagement plans, including with ministers, as she believes is most appropriate for the commission’s work.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that face-to-face meetings are available to claimants during the Personal Independence Payment appeals process.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Listing appeals, including the mode of hearing, is a judicial function, and HM Courts & Tribunals Service cannot comment on decisions made by independent tribunal judiciary.

As part of the appeal process, appellants are given the option to select the most suitable hearing types for them. This includes attending a tribunal venue for a face-to-face hearing; a video or telephone hearing; or for the appeal to be determined on the papers. The Department for Work and Pensions, as Respondent to the appeal, is also given the opportunity to express their preference for the type of hearing they would like. Most hearings are currently held in person at a tribunal venue.

The President of the First-Tier Social Entitlement Chamber has published a Guidance Note on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Website covering the mode of hearing in Social Security and Child Support Tribunal Appeals here: Chamber President's Guidance Note No. 5 Mode of hearing in Social Security and Child Support Appeals.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department will continue to offer face-to-face meetings for Personal Independence Payment appeal hearings.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Listing appeals, including the mode of hearing, is a judicial function, and HM Courts & Tribunals Service cannot comment on decisions made by independent tribunal judiciary.

As part of the appeal process, appellants are given the option to select the most suitable hearing types for them. This includes attending a tribunal venue for a face-to-face hearing; a video or telephone hearing; or for the appeal to be determined on the papers. The Department for Work and Pensions, as Respondent to the appeal, is also given the opportunity to express their preference for the type of hearing they would like. Most hearings are currently held in person at a tribunal venue.

The President of the First-Tier Social Entitlement Chamber has published a Guidance Note on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Website covering the mode of hearing in Social Security and Child Support Tribunal Appeals here: Chamber President's Guidance Note No. 5 Mode of hearing in Social Security and Child Support Appeals.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to bring forward the timing of Personal Independence Payment review assessments.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have launched a review of the PIP assessment as a whole, to make sure it is fair and fit for the future in a changing world and helps support disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence. I am leading the review.

We published the Terms of Reference for the Review on 30 June 2025, and will update these shortly. We have committed to co-producing the review with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders. We will engage widely over the summer to design the process for the work of the review and consider how it can best be co-produced to ensure that expertise from a range of different perspectives is drawn upon.

We are committed to concluding the review by Autumn 2026 and will report outcomes to the House in a ministerial Oral Statement. We have committed to a general debate on this, in Government time. The legislation to implement the outcomes of the review will not be brought forward until that has happened.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of not being able to access a consistent brand of Letrozole on patient adherence.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Where a prescriber specifies a specific brand or manufacturer on the prescription, the pharmacy should provide that specific product to the patient. However, obtaining a product from a particular supplier may take the pharmacy longer to source.

Pharmacies are largely private businesses, which provide National Health Services and have their own buying arrangements. Not all manufacturers supply to all wholesalers and not all pharmacies use the same wholesalers. This can mean there may be some specific manufacturer’s products that a pharmacy may not easily be able to source.

Where a pharmacy is unable to supply a particular medicine promptly, their professional guidance states that they should talk to the patient to discuss the possible options available to them. This includes checking whether the medicine is available at another pharmacy or offering to contact the patient’s prescriber to jointly consider whether another suitable brand or medicine is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that patients prescribed Letrozole are able to access a brand they can tolerate.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Where a prescriber specifies a specific brand or manufacturer on the prescription, the pharmacy should provide that specific product to the patient. However, obtaining a product from a particular supplier may take the pharmacy longer to source.

Pharmacies are largely private businesses, which provide National Health Services and have their own buying arrangements. Not all manufacturers supply to all wholesalers and not all pharmacies use the same wholesalers. This can mean there may be some specific manufacturer’s products that a pharmacy may not easily be able to source.

Where a pharmacy is unable to supply a particular medicine promptly, their professional guidance states that they should talk to the patient to discuss the possible options available to them. This includes checking whether the medicine is available at another pharmacy or offering to contact the patient’s prescriber to jointly consider whether another suitable brand or medicine is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to assess the (a) affordability and (b) accessibility of transferring people unable to access timely care on the NHS to private sector providers for temporomandibular joint disorder.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) treatment is considered as planned non-emergency care. The NHS.UK website advises that it is not usually serious and generally gets better without treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/

Treatment options for TMJD are:

- conservative treatments such as pain relief, physiotherapy, bite guards, and self-management advice. These are usually provided through primary care and would be considered as non-urgent but necessary care;

- specialist referral, if conservative treatment does not help, specifically referral to oral maxillofacial surgery or a specialist pain clinic may occur. These referrals are part of the routine National Health Service pathways but are prioritised on clinical need; and

- surgical treatments in severe cases, which are scheduled as planned elective procedures. In NHS terms this falls under elective care, but it is not optional in a cosmetic sense, as it is clinically indicated.

NHS England Getting It Right First Time and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery have produced guidance to better manage the condition, which is available at the following link:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/Comprehensive-guideline-Management-of-painful-Temporomandibular-disorder-in-adults-March-2024.pdf

No assessment has been made on the adequacy of the training for general practitioners and dentists on recognising and managing TMJD. The standard of training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council and General Dental Council, which are independent statutory bodies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment pathways for people with temporomandibular joint disorder.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) treatment is considered as planned non-emergency care. The NHS.UK website advises that it is not usually serious and generally gets better without treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/

Treatment options for TMJD are:

- conservative treatments such as pain relief, physiotherapy, bite guards, and self-management advice. These are usually provided through primary care and would be considered as non-urgent but necessary care;

- specialist referral, if conservative treatment does not help, specifically referral to oral maxillofacial surgery or a specialist pain clinic may occur. These referrals are part of the routine National Health Service pathways but are prioritised on clinical need; and

- surgical treatments in severe cases, which are scheduled as planned elective procedures. In NHS terms this falls under elective care, but it is not optional in a cosmetic sense, as it is clinically indicated.

NHS England Getting It Right First Time and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery have produced guidance to better manage the condition, which is available at the following link:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/Comprehensive-guideline-Management-of-painful-Temporomandibular-disorder-in-adults-March-2024.pdf

No assessment has been made on the adequacy of the training for general practitioners and dentists on recognising and managing TMJD. The standard of training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council and General Dental Council, which are independent statutory bodies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of training for (a) general practitioners and (b) dentists for (i) recognising and (ii) managing temporomandibular joint disorder.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) treatment is considered as planned non-emergency care. The NHS.UK website advises that it is not usually serious and generally gets better without treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/

Treatment options for TMJD are:

- conservative treatments such as pain relief, physiotherapy, bite guards, and self-management advice. These are usually provided through primary care and would be considered as non-urgent but necessary care;

- specialist referral, if conservative treatment does not help, specifically referral to oral maxillofacial surgery or a specialist pain clinic may occur. These referrals are part of the routine National Health Service pathways but are prioritised on clinical need; and

- surgical treatments in severe cases, which are scheduled as planned elective procedures. In NHS terms this falls under elective care, but it is not optional in a cosmetic sense, as it is clinically indicated.

NHS England Getting It Right First Time and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery have produced guidance to better manage the condition, which is available at the following link:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/FDS/Comprehensive-guideline-Management-of-painful-Temporomandibular-disorder-in-adults-March-2024.pdf

No assessment has been made on the adequacy of the training for general practitioners and dentists on recognising and managing TMJD. The standard of training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council and General Dental Council, which are independent statutory bodies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885 to introduce modern (a) penalties and (b) definitions for (i) undersea infrastructure attacks and (ii) cyber‑enabled sabotage.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is conducting a review to assess whether existing legal frameworks applying to subsea telecoms cables remain sufficient to ensure the security and resilience of this critical infrastructure. As part of the review, we are considering the provisions in the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885, including whether existing penalties and definitions remain fit for purpose to address modern threats. Where appropriate and proportionate to do so, the government will develop proposals to update existing legal frameworks.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to support (a) BAE Systems and (b) other UK defence manufacturers to restart Typhoon production at the Warton facility in Lancashire.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK, with an estimated 9,000 jobs in North-West England alone. Thanks to the hard-fought industrial workshare agreement, 37% of all nations' Typhoons are made in the UK, with major unit production occurring at BAE Systems sites in Salmesbury and Warton. Consequently, due to new aircraft orders placed by other nations, and the UK's continued investment to upgrade and sustain our Typhoons, the vast majority of these jobs are already secured. Importantly, this will sustain highest skilled manufacturing jobs in the UK for at least the next 10 years irrespective of whether the UK orders more aircraft.

Typhoon will remain a critical Combat Aircraft for the UK until at least 2040. UK investment to upgrade and sustain the UK's Typhoon fleet will support jobs at BAE Systems sites, particularly at Warton and strengthen the UK's prospective Typhoon export campaigns. The Ministry of Defence is actively supporting BAE Systems export campaigns with Turkey and the KSA; the success of either of which would be enough to secure approximately 150-200 jobs on the Warton assembly line.

In addition, to Typhoon, UK investment in the global F-35 programme, which has prospective orders for more than 3,500 aircraft, has created up to 20,000 UK jobs in the manufacturing and supply chains. With some nations expected to operate F-35 until the 2080s, the UK's participation in this programme will sustain these jobs for decades to come. Moreover, our investment in the Global Combat Air Programme is building on the Typhoon and F-35 UK industry skills base. There are already over 3,500 skilled people working on the programme across the UK, with a large proportion employed at BAE Systems at Warton, where the development of the aircraft is being led. Our commitment to the UK's Combat Air aerospace sector through the Typhoon, F-35 and GCAP programmes outlined in the Strategic Defence Review will deliver a world class Combat Air fleet for our armed forces and support over 40,000 long-term, high-quality UK manufacturing jobs.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to discourage the use of disposable barbecues in National Landscapes during periods of high fire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques at present. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It would also be a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute

National Landscapes and National Parks also have specific powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government departments to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code also advises visitors to the countryside to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires and fire risk are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with retailers on limiting the sale of disposable barbecues during periods of high fire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques at present. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It would also be a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute

National Landscapes and National Parks also have specific powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government departments to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code also advises visitors to the countryside to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires and fire risk are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered introducing restrictions on the sale of disposable barbecues in areas experiencing prolonged dry weather.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a national policy on the (a) use and (b) sale of disposable barbecues in relation to increased wildfire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities (a) in West Dorset constituency (b) nationwide to limit the use of disposable barbecues during periods of high wildfire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of banning the use of disposable barbecues during periods of elevated wildfire risk due to dry conditions.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support youth organisations serving (a) isolated and (b) rural communities in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential.

We also, however, acknowledge the challenges facing the sector and the changing needs of the young people it supports — especially those in rural areas, who often face additional barriers such as limited access to services, transport, and opportunities.

That is why we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. The Strategy will support better coordination of youth services across different regions — including remote and underserved areas and move away from one-size-fits-all approaches from central government. By doing so, we will bring power back to young people and their communities, rebuild a thriving and sustainable sector, and ensure that rural youth are not left behind.

We will be publishing an interim report shortly, and the Strategy will be published in Autumn.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to support youth work that promotes volunteering opportunities among young people.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We know that being part of supportive communities, accessing youth work, youth provision and volunteering opportunities can transform young people’s lives. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) supports the youth work sector in a number of ways, including through funding the National Youth Agency (NYA) to maintain youth work qualifications, curriculum and national standards for England. The NYA youth work curriculum outlines why and how to involve young people in volunteering and social action in their communities.

We also fund and support the #iwill Movement, the only national movement which champions and supports young people engaged in social action, including volunteering. The National Lottery Community Fund and DCMS have jointly run the #iwill Fund since 2016, funding the creation of youth social action opportunities for an estimated 900,000 young people across the country.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of access to youth work provision in (a) West Dorset constituency and (b) other rural areas.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area. Local Authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Finance Settlement in line with local need.

DCMS has also published statutory guidance to support local authorities’ understanding of the existing duty and how to deliver it.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of youth workers on improving young people’s (a) physical and (b) mental health outcomes.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. We know that youth workers are vital to youth services, building trusted relationships and creating safe spaces for young people.

That is why this government launched the co-production of an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, which has been developed together with the youth sector. The new National Youth Strategy is being co-produced with cross-sector input from stakeholders working with and for young people, particularly drawing on the connections and expertise of the youth sector.

DCMS has also commissioned research analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study and the UK Households Longitudinal Survey (longitudinal surveys) which found that at the time of participation, regular attendees of youth activities were more likely to be in good health and not drink/take illegal drugs compared to young people who do not attend youth activities.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of youth work on (a) helping young people stay safe and (b) building relationships in communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government recognises the important role that youth work plays in young people’s lives. We know that youth workers are vital to youth services, building trusted relationships and creating safe spaces for young people. We also acknowledge the challenges facing the sector and the changing needs of the young people it supports.

That is why this government launched the co-production of an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, which has been developed together with the youth sector. As part of the National Youth Strategy, we are exploring what young people’s current needs are, looking at access to safe spaces, role models, communities and much more. We will be publishing an interim report shortly, and the Strategy will be published in the autumn.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking through youth services to help increase (a) school attendance and (b) the number of young people staying in education.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to live safe and healthy lives, and the positive impact youth services can have on young people, including in educational settings.

That is why we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. The Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts.

We know that youth services will help deliver the government’s missions, and the National Youth Strategy will work alongside developing Young Future hubs, the Curriculum and Assessment Review and further work across government to fulfill our commitment to improve young people’s lives.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with youth sector representatives on the role of youth work in helping young people (a) prepare for and (b) access employment.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. That is why this government launched the co-production of an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, which has been developed together with the youth sector.

The new National Youth Strategy is being co-produced with cross-sector input from stakeholders working with and for young people, particularly drawing on the connections and expertise of the youth sector. We have run engagement sessions in partnership with a range of services, to ensure the strategy can advise and support the youth sector effectively, including to support young people to prepare for and access employment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the consistency of enforcement by the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision across legal sector regulators.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

OPBAS oversees 22 Professional Body Supervisors (PBSs) in the legal and accountancy sectors, to improve their Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) supervision. Its powers include obtaining information from PBSs, appointing skilled persons to improve supervisory work, and recommending that HM Treasury remove a PBS as an AML/CTF supervisor. OPBAS produces annual reports on PBS performance against the expectations set out in its Sourcebook. These show that OPBAS has delivered substantial improvements since 2018; however some weaknesses remain and HM Treasury has consulted on further options for reform.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to assess the potential merits of extending UK Shared Prosperity Fund support since the spending review.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is introducing a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. Following March 2026, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will end and will be replaced by the local growth fund for specific city regions in England, and communities funding, including the Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce paid carer’s leave for employees with caring responsibilities.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Plan to Make Work Pay set out a commitment to review the implementation of carer’s leave and to look at where any improvements may be needed. This work is underway and will include examining the benefits of paid leave, while being mindful of the impacts on businesses.

To ensure transparency through this programme of work, we will set out a clear timeline for the remainder of the review in autumn this year. We will also run a public consultation in 2026 on employment support for those balancing work with unpaid care.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of anti-money laundering regulations on transaction times in property conveyancing.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Under the Money Laundering Regulations, estate agents and legal professionals must apply customer due diligence measures to mitigate the risk that property purchases are used to launder the proceeds of crime. These measures include checking and verifying the identity of buyers and sellers and assessing the purpose and intended nature of the transaction. The Regulations enable a proportionate, risk-based approach to customer due diligence, meaning conveyancers and others should actively assess and respond to the specific risks in each transaction. The Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) guidance provides detailed advice to legal professionals on how to comply proportionately with these requirements in property transactions. HM Treasury has regular discussions with representatives of regulated sectors, including conveyancers, to ensure the Regulations remain proportionate and effective.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with property lawyers on the potential impact of anti-money laundering regulations on the homebuying process.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Under the Money Laundering Regulations, estate agents and legal professionals must apply customer due diligence measures to mitigate the risk that property purchases are used to launder the proceeds of crime. These measures include checking and verifying the identity of buyers and sellers and assessing the purpose and intended nature of the transaction. The Regulations enable a proportionate, risk-based approach to customer due diligence, meaning conveyancers and others should actively assess and respond to the specific risks in each transaction. The Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) guidance provides detailed advice to legal professionals on how to comply proportionately with these requirements in property transactions. HM Treasury has regular discussions with representatives of regulated sectors, including conveyancers, to ensure the Regulations remain proportionate and effective.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to respite care services for unpaid carers in (a) West Dorset and (b) other rural areas.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers. Additionally, the Government’s Better Care Fund can also be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides assessments of how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to unpaid carers. Formal assessments commenced in December 2023 and as of June 2025, the CQC has published over 40 local authority assessments, which can be accessed via the CQC website at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review (a) anti-money laundering laws and (b) guidance applicable to property lawyers.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Under the Money Laundering Regulations, estate agents and legal professionals must apply customer due diligence measures to mitigate the risk that property purchases are used to launder the proceeds of crime. These measures include checking and verifying the identity of buyers and sellers and assessing the purpose and intended nature of the transaction. The Regulations enable a proportionate, risk-based approach to customer due diligence, meaning conveyancers and others should actively assess and respond to the specific risks in each transaction. The Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) guidance provides detailed advice to legal professionals on how to comply proportionately with these requirements in property transactions. HM Treasury has regular discussions with representatives of regulated sectors, including conveyancers, to ensure the Regulations remain proportionate and effective.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of making caring a protected characteristic on carers in (a) rural communities and (b) West Dorset.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need.

People with caring responsibilities are afforded protections under the Equality Act 2010 by provisions relating to age and disability discrimination.

The act also protects people from direct discrimination “by association”, meaning that individuals with caring responsibilities for someone who is a child, elderly, or disabled has protection from unlawful discrimination due to their association with someone with a recognised protected characteristic.

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 establish a National Care Agency to (a) set minimum standards of care and (b) maintain a national register of care workers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to a well-supported adult social care workforce who are recognised as the professionals they are. Enhancing the skills of staff working in adult social care is vital to ensuring that the care provided is of good quality, fair, personalised, and accessible. Promoting opportunities to develop skills and knowledge is essential to raising the status of adult social care as a career. We have expanded the first ever national career structure for adult social care, the Care Workforce Pathway, adding new roles and clear career pathways. Backed by £12 million for training through the Learning and Development Support Scheme, this supports staff development and recognises the vital work care professionals do.

The Government is committed to transforming adult social care to create a National Care Service and to improving the lives of people drawing on care, unpaid carers, and the social care workforce. We have also launched an independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Casey, as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission's Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable Baroness Casey to define its remit and to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the school meals funding rate on local providers.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals (FSM) to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

The new entitlement will be fully funded. The department has set aside over £1 billion in funding over the multi-year spending review period to cover the additional meal costs. This is new money, as opposed to funding within existing school budgets. This will support schools to deliver nutritious and high quality meals which meet the school food standards to over half a million additional pupils.

Schools fund benefits-related FSM from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula, which has increased to a factor value of £495 per eligible pupil for the 2025/26 academic year. The current meal rate for universal infant free school meals and further education free meals is increasing to £2.61 for 2025/26. As with all programmes, we will continue to keep funding for FSM under review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the funding rate for school meals in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals (FSM) to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

The new entitlement will be fully funded. The department has set aside over £1 billion in funding over the multi-year spending review period to cover the additional meal costs. This is new money, as opposed to funding within existing school budgets. This will support schools to deliver nutritious and high quality meals which meet the school food standards to over half a million additional pupils.

Schools fund benefits-related FSM from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula, which has increased to a factor value of £495 per eligible pupil for the 2025/26 academic year. The current meal rate for universal infant free school meals and further education free meals is increasing to £2.61 for 2025/26. As with all programmes, we will continue to keep funding for FSM under review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the school meals funding rate in England to match the rate in Scotland.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals (FSM) to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

The new entitlement will be fully funded. The department has set aside over £1 billion in funding over the multi-year spending review period to cover the additional meal costs. This is new money, as opposed to funding within existing school budgets. This will support schools to deliver nutritious and high quality meals which meet the school food standards to over half a million additional pupils.

Schools fund benefits-related FSM from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula, which has increased to a factor value of £495 per eligible pupil for the 2025/26 academic year. The current meal rate for universal infant free school meals and further education free meals is increasing to £2.61 for 2025/26. As with all programmes, we will continue to keep funding for FSM under review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to increase the funding rate for school meals.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals (FSM) to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

The new entitlement will be fully funded. The department has set aside over £1 billion in funding over the multi-year spending review period to cover the additional meal costs. This is new money, as opposed to funding within existing school budgets. This will support schools to deliver nutritious and high quality meals which meet the school food standards to over half a million additional pupils.

Schools fund benefits-related FSM from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula, which has increased to a factor value of £495 per eligible pupil for the 2025/26 academic year. The current meal rate for universal infant free school meals and further education free meals is increasing to £2.61 for 2025/26. As with all programmes, we will continue to keep funding for FSM under review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for young carers in West Dorset to ensure they can fully participate in education.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

​Statutory guidance ’Keeping children safe in education’ sets out that all school and college staff should be alert to the potential need for early help of young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to undergo training to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their role, including having a good understanding of the specific needs of young carers. ​This will ensure they receive tailored support and do not miss out on vital educational opportunities.

Whilst young carer status does not attract pupil premium funding, evidence suggests that around 60% of young carers are eligible for this funding through free school meals entitlement. Our guidance to school leaders is clear that pupil premium should not be restricted to those pupils who have eligibility for the funding, and schools should use it to support other pupils with identified needs, including young carers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to introduce a Young Carers Pupil Premium.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

​Statutory guidance ’Keeping children safe in education’ sets out that all school and college staff should be alert to the potential need for early help of young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to undergo training to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their role, including having a good understanding of the specific needs of young carers. ​This will ensure they receive tailored support and do not miss out on vital educational opportunities.

Whilst young carer status does not attract pupil premium funding, evidence suggests that around 60% of young carers are eligible for this funding through free school meals entitlement. Our guidance to school leaders is clear that pupil premium should not be restricted to those pupils who have eligibility for the funding, and schools should use it to support other pupils with identified needs, including young carers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to (a) increase the rate of and (b) expand eligibility for Carer’s Allowance, in the context of trends in the number of unpaid carers.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government keeps all aspects of Carer’s Allowance (CA) under review to see if it is meeting its objectives. It is not means-tested but is subject to a weekly earnings limit. This was increased by a record amount in April 2025, which will benefit at least 60,000 unpaid carers between 2025/26 and 2029/30.

Beyond that, to be entitled to CA, a carer must be over the age of 16 and provide 35 hours of care per week to a severally disabled person in receipt of a qualifying benefit. They must not be in ‘gainful employment’ (earning more than the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage), or in full time education (defined as being more than 21 hours per week). There are currently no plans to change the existing eligibility rules for CA.

The level of CA is protected by uprating it each April in line with inflation as measured by the CPI for the previous September. The purpose of benefit uprating is to ensure that the value of benefits stays in line with the general level of prices. From April 2025, the rate of CA was increased to £83.30 per week.

Between 2025/26 and 2029/30 real terms expenditure on CA is forecast to rise by over 6% - around £285 million. By 2029/30, the Government is forecast to spend over £4.7 billion in real terms a year on CA in England and Wales.

CA may be supplemented for those on low incomes through Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These are paid at a higher rate for carers through the Universal Credit carer element of £201.68 per monthly assessment period, paid in addition to the Standard Allowance; or the additional amount for carers in Pension Credit of £46.40 a week, paid in addition to the Standard Minimum Guarantee.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to expand eligibility for Carer’s Allowance in West Dorset.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government keeps all aspects of Carer’s Allowance (CA) under review to see if it is meeting its objectives. It is not means-tested but is subject to a weekly earnings limit. This was increased by a record amount in April 2025, which will benefit at least 60,000 unpaid carers between 2025/26 and 2029/30.

Beyond that, to be entitled to CA, a carer must be over the age of 16 and provide 35 hours of care per week to a severally disabled person in receipt of a qualifying benefit. They must not be in ‘gainful employment’ (earning more than the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage), or in full time education (defined as being more than 21 hours per week). There are currently no plans to change the existing eligibility rules for CA.

The level of CA is protected by uprating it each April in line with inflation as measured by the CPI for the previous September. The purpose of benefit uprating is to ensure that the value of benefits stays in line with the general level of prices. From April 2025, the rate of CA was increased to £83.30 per week.

Between 2025/26 and 2029/30 real terms expenditure on CA is forecast to rise by over 6% - around £285 million. By 2029/30, the Government is forecast to spend over £4.7 billion in real terms a year on CA in England and Wales.

CA may be supplemented for those on low incomes through Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These are paid at a higher rate for carers through the Universal Credit carer element of £201.68 per monthly assessment period, paid in addition to the Standard Allowance; or the additional amount for carers in Pension Credit of £46.40 a week, paid in addition to the Standard Minimum Guarantee.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unpaid carers receive Carer’s Allowance in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The latest figures available - from November 2024 - show that 999 people were receiving a Carer’s Allowance payment in West Dorset Constituency.

These figures can be found on Stat-Xplore.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce a statutory entitlement to regular respite breaks for unpaid carers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.

The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.

We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers, who provide vital care and support.

In addition, through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in delivering UK Shared Prosperity Fund programmes effectively in rural constituencies.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

UKSPF provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022-26), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. The Fund has a light-touch delegated delivery model that empowers local authorities to deliver interventions in line with their local priorities, including rural area priorities.

We also administer the Rural England Prosperity Fund via UKSPF (2023-26). It supports activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face. It is complementary to funding used to support rural areas under the UKSPF.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to Dorset.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

UKSPF provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022-26), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula.

Dorset Council received £6.01 million (including a £1.58 million Multiply allocation) across 2022-25 and a further £1.45 million of UKSPF funding for 2025-26 to deliver interventions in line with their local priorities.

Carers and social care reform

Statutory consultees for sustainable development

Funding and support for SEND

Green House Climate Club campaign

Food waste

Provision of trained Family Liaison Officers

Greyhound racing

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Women’s sports

Support for local independent businesses, shops, markets and producers

UK-based medical charities in Palestine

Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Reform of the special educational needs and disabilities system

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