Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to exempt veterans who are amputees from repeat Personal Independence Payment assessments.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards, including the rate payable and the duration, are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. Regular reviews are a key feature of the benefit and ensure that payments accurately match the current needs of claimants. Award durations can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review at the ten-year point.
For most claimants over 25, their first review will be a minimum of 3 years and, assuming they remain entitled, 5 years for their next review.
We know PIP can be improved, which is why we launched the Timms Review, working with disabled people and their organisations to ensure the benefit is fit for the future. We launched a Call for Evidence that closed last week and are beginning to carefully consider and analyse the responses provided. We have also outlined a varied approach to evidence gathering so people can share their views on how the benefit should be reformed.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising input costs on farms in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Food security is a priority for Government, and we are taking the impacts from developments from the Middle East conflict seriously. Defra is actively monitoring all risks across food supply chains, including regular engagement with industry, to identify emerging pressures and support preparedness.
Defra works closely with other departments to ensure food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.
This Government is taking decisive action to support farmers and fishers by cutting red diesel to its lowest rate in over 20 years, reducing the rates on red diesel by a third.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of pubs that are currently operated under tenancy or lease agreements with pub-owning companies in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Section 25 notices have been issued by pub-owning companies to tenants in West Dorset constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what protections are available to pub tenants who have made improvements to leased premises when facing lease (a) termination and (b) non-renewal by pub-owning companies.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the use of Section 25 notices by pub-owning companies to regain control of pubs for direct company operation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and can provide support to tenants on any Code related issues.
Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 can provide commercial tenants with a statutory right to security of tenure in the correct circumstances. A tenant may also have a statutory right to claim cash compensation for improvements under Part I of the Act. The government does not hold data on the number of Section 25 notices issued.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Dental patients to benefit from 700,000 extra urgent appointments, published on 21 February 2025, how many urgent dental appointments were delivered between 21 February 2025 and 21 February 2026.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made on the impact of the urgent dental appointments announced on 21 February 2025 on levels of severe tooth problems.
The Government is committed to ensuring that people can access urgent dental care when they need it. The Chief Dental Officer advised that the national target, which was tied to the clinical definition of urgent, meant that some patients were missing out on treatment. In 2025/26, integrated care boards commissioned additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country.
Since April, we now require all dental practices to provide an agreed amount of urgent care and are increasing the payments to dentists to undertake this vital National Health Service work, benefitting patients across the country.
1.8 million additional courses of NHS dental treatment have been delivered in the seven months between April 2025 to October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to the general election, nearly half of which were delivered to children.
Data on delivery of urgent dental care is published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of NHS dental care.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments announced on 21 February 2025 on levels of severe tooth problems.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made on the impact of the urgent dental appointments announced on 21 February 2025 on levels of severe tooth problems.
The Government is committed to ensuring that people can access urgent dental care when they need it. The Chief Dental Officer advised that the national target, which was tied to the clinical definition of urgent, meant that some patients were missing out on treatment. In 2025/26, integrated care boards commissioned additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country.
Since April, we now require all dental practices to provide an agreed amount of urgent care and are increasing the payments to dentists to undertake this vital National Health Service work, benefitting patients across the country.
1.8 million additional courses of NHS dental treatment have been delivered in the seven months between April 2025 to October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to the general election, nearly half of which were delivered to children.
Data on delivery of urgent dental care is published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of NHS dental care.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help lower food costs for households in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is taking action to address food prices by working with the food industry on supply chain resilience, regulatory burden, and structural drivers of food costs. Measures already taken as part of wider efforts to reduce pressure on prices due to the Middle East conflict include tariff reductions on a variety of customer staples. The Government is developing plans to work with local authorities to support improved access to healthy and affordable food in areas in greatest need. Targeted support is available for lower income households through the recently uplifted Healthy Start, plans for extension of free school meals, and the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising fertiliser costs on farms in West Dorset.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is assessing the impact on farmers of high prices, and impacts in the wider supply chain. Defra is working closely with the sector to understand risks and issues, and options for action where needed.