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 occupational therapist prescribing rights on (a) reducing waiting times and (b) improving access to care in West Dorset.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We support the expansion of non-medical professional groups being able to use legal mechanisms to prescribe, supply, and administer medicines to patients where it is safe to do so. There is a robust process in place for making such changes to ensure they are safe and beneficial for patients.

We are considering requests for the extension of existing medicines responsibilities and recently concluded a consultation on proposals to extend the medicines responsibilities of four professions. Further information can be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extend-medicines-responsibilities-for-allied-health-professions

No specific assessment has been made of the impact of extending prescribing rights for occupational therapists on patient access to treatment, waiting times, or access to care in West Dorset.

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 support occupational therapists to undertake training required for independent prescribing qualifications.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We support the expansion of non-medical professional groups being able to use legal mechanisms to prescribe, supply, and administer medicines to patients where it is safe to do so. There is a robust process in place for making such changes to ensure they are safe and beneficial for patients.

We are considering requests for the extension of existing medicines responsibilities and recently concluded a consultation on proposals to extend the medicines responsibilities of four professions. Further information can be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extend-medicines-responsibilities-for-allied-health-professions

No specific assessment has been made of the impact of extending prescribing rights for occupational therapists on patient access to treatment, waiting times, or access to care in West Dorset.

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 extending prescribing rights for occupational therapists on patient access to treatment.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We support the expansion of non-medical professional groups being able to use legal mechanisms to prescribe, supply, and administer medicines to patients where it is safe to do so. There is a robust process in place for making such changes to ensure they are safe and beneficial for patients.

We are considering requests for the extension of existing medicines responsibilities and recently concluded a consultation on proposals to extend the medicines responsibilities of four professions. Further information can be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extend-medicines-responsibilities-for-allied-health-professions

No specific assessment has been made of the impact of extending prescribing rights for occupational therapists on patient access to treatment, waiting times, or access to care in West Dorset.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Government of Spain on improving cooperation with UK authorities where a second post-mortem is unable to determine the cause of death because organs have been retained overseas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that requests from the families of British nationals for the return of retained organs from overseas are progressed as quickly as possible through the relevant legal processes.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in the return of retained organs on bereaved families of British nationals who die overseas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Spanish counterpart on expediting the return of organs retained by Spanish authorities following the death of a British national.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Government of Spain on reducing delays in the completion of legal and forensic processes involving deceased British nationals.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support her Department provides to families seeking the return of organs retained overseas following the death of a British national.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In any given year, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides information and assistance in around 6,000 cases where a British person has died overseas. Every death is a personal tragedy, and our consular staff aim to provide practical, compassionate and timely support to those affected. We publish detailed country-specific guidance for Spain covering registering a death, the process of post-mortems and navigating local procedures. We work closely with Spanish authorities to help families navigate those processes. Where concerns are raised about systemic issues or significant delays affecting British families, we raise these with the relevant authorities and press them for improvements, including in Spain.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help support Dorset Police to tackle antisocial behaviour involving catapults in West Dorset constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government shares concerns over the misuse of both manufactured and homemade catapults, whether against people, property or wildlife.

There are a wide range of laws in place to punish those who misuse catapults. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies, including Dorset police, with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour, including involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs).

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to 4 years in prison. The definition of an 'offensive weapon' may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

Where a catapult is used to harm a person, under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, it could be charged as assault occasioning actual bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment, or the offence of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Specific to animals and birds, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales and there are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

We have noted proposals for new restrictions, and we are actively considering what more might be done

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 to support libraries operating in listed buildings.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service, including locations and buildings, to meet those needs within their available resources.

Core funding for libraries is through the Local Government Finance Settlement. In 2026-27 the government will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

Some listed buildings housing libraries may be able to benefit from the Department’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, operated by Historic England, which provides grants of up to £1 million to individuals and organisations legally responsible for conserving listed landmarks and has a budget of up to £60 million over the next four years.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with sporting bodies on increasing rugby participation in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Rugby remains an established part of school sport and there are clear inequalities among girls, disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.

The department maintains regular engagement with sporting bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. These organisations report growing participation in schools and are investing in and are investing in formats such as T1 (non-contact) rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby, which can help schools introduce the sport more easily and safely.

We are investing over £1 billion in PE and school sport over the next three years, including £530 million for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Network will strengthen links between schools, governing bodies and local clubs, helping to identify and remove barriers to participation and ensuring that rugby, including contact rugby, and other sports are accessible to young people across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with sporting bodies on increasing contact rugby participation in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Rugby remains an established part of school sport and there are clear inequalities among girls, disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.

The department maintains regular engagement with sporting bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. These organisations report growing participation in schools and are investing in and are investing in formats such as T1 (non-contact) rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby, which can help schools introduce the sport more easily and safely.

We are investing over £1 billion in PE and school sport over the next three years, including £530 million for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Network will strengthen links between schools, governing bodies and local clubs, helping to identify and remove barriers to participation and ensuring that rugby, including contact rugby, and other sports are accessible to young people across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of access to (a) rugby in schools and (b) other school sport opportunities.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Rugby remains an established part of school sport and there are clear inequalities among girls, disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.

The department maintains regular engagement with sporting bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. These organisations report growing participation in schools and are investing in and are investing in formats such as T1 (non-contact) rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby, which can help schools introduce the sport more easily and safely.

We are investing over £1 billion in PE and school sport over the next three years, including £530 million for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Network will strengthen links between schools, governing bodies and local clubs, helping to identify and remove barriers to participation and ensuring that rugby, including contact rugby, and other sports are accessible to young people across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support rugby in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Rugby remains an established part of school sport and there are clear inequalities among girls, disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.

The department maintains regular engagement with sporting bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. These organisations report growing participation in schools and are investing in and are investing in formats such as T1 (non-contact) rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby, which can help schools introduce the sport more easily and safely.

We are investing over £1 billion in PE and school sport over the next three years, including £530 million for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Network will strengthen links between schools, governing bodies and local clubs, helping to identify and remove barriers to participation and ensuring that rugby, including contact rugby, and other sports are accessible to young people across the country.

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 plans to provide additional funding for the maintenance of listed building social housing stock.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No specific funding has been allocated for the maintenance of listed building social housing stock.

In the five-step plan for delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing published on 2 July 2025 (which can be found on gov.uk here), we announced measures to rebuild the financial capacity of social housing providers to enable them to borrow and invest in new and existing homes. These included a stable long-term rent policy of CPI+1% for 10 years, social rent convergence, and over £1 billion of building safety funding between 2026-2027 and 2029-20 30.

In addition, just under £1.15 billion has been provided to retrofit social homes across 138 projects under Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 across England. In April 2026, the government announced it will be providing a further £100 million for solar panel installations.

This funding will help landlords meet new decent homes and energy efficiency requirements, but some requirements may still be difficult or impossible to achieve for listed buildings. Where physical or planning constraints prevent compliance, exemptions will remain in place to protect landlords from unreasonable costs.

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 for listed building social housing projects.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No specific funding has been allocated for the maintenance of listed building social housing stock.

In the five-step plan for delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing published on 2 July 2025 (which can be found on gov.uk here), we announced measures to rebuild the financial capacity of social housing providers to enable them to borrow and invest in new and existing homes. These included a stable long-term rent policy of CPI+1% for 10 years, social rent convergence, and over £1 billion of building safety funding between 2026-2027 and 2029-20 30.

In addition, just under £1.15 billion has been provided to retrofit social homes across 138 projects under Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 across England. In April 2026, the government announced it will be providing a further £100 million for solar panel installations.

This funding will help landlords meet new decent homes and energy efficiency requirements, but some requirements may still be difficult or impossible to achieve for listed buildings. Where physical or planning constraints prevent compliance, exemptions will remain in place to protect landlords from unreasonable costs.