Simon Hoare Portrait

Simon Hoare

Conservative - North Dorset

1,589 (3.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015


Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
13th Nov 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
16th Jan 2024 - 30th May 2024
Local Government (Pay Accountability) Bill
15th May 2024 - 22nd May 2024
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
29th Jan 2020 - 14th Nov 2023
Liaison Committee (Commons)
20th May 2020 - 13th Nov 2023
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
12th Jun 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee (Commons)
12th Jun 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Regulatory Reform
6th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Welsh Affairs Committee
16th Oct 2017 - 26th Nov 2018
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
12th Dec 2017 - 4th Sep 2018
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
1st Dec 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Regulatory Reform
12th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Procedure Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 21st Nov 2016


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Simon Hoare has voted in 166 divisions, and 4 times against the majority of their Party.

26 Nov 2024 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Simon Hoare voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Conservative Aye votes vs 35 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 47
11 Dec 2024 - Trade - View Vote Context
Simon Hoare voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 1 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 375 Noes - 9
15 Jan 2025 - Deferred Division - View Vote Context
Simon Hoare voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 65 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 423 Noes - 77
15 Jan 2025 - Retained EU Law Reform - View Vote Context
Simon Hoare voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 67 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 418 Noes - 78
View All Simon Hoare Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
James Murray (Labour (Co-op))
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
(10 debate interactions)
Daniel Zeichner (Labour)
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(8 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(8 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(39 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(15 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(13 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Simon Hoare's debates

North Dorset Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Simon Hoare has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Simon Hoare

6th May 2025
Simon Hoare signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 7th May 2025

Upholding biological sex-based protections in single-sex spaces

Tabled by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
That this House notes the recent UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, which clarified that the terms man, woman, and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex; recognises the significance of this clarification in ensuring the integrity of single-sex spaces …
11 signatures
(Most recent: 15 May 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 7
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Independent: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
24th March 2025
Simon Hoare signed this EDM on Thursday 27th March 2025

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance 25th anniversary

Tabled by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
That this House recognises the brilliant work of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance on its 25th anniversary of dedicated service; further recognises the extraordinary contribution of its pilots, volunteers, paramedics, and doctors in providing lifesaving pre-hospital critical care to people in need, particularly in remote, coastal and rural areas; notes …
18 signatures
(Most recent: 2 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 13
Independent: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Labour: 1
Conservative: 1
View All Simon Hoare's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Simon Hoare, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.



Latest 22 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the coverage is of superfast broadband in (a) Dorset and (b) North Dorset constituency; and what steps he is taking to improve superfast broadband coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 97% of premises in Dorset can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 61% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>1000 Mbps). In the North Dorset constituency, over 98% can access superfast broadband speeds, and over 78% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection.

To improve this coverage further, Wessex Internet is delivering two contracts under Project Gigabit, targeted at bringing fast, reliable broadband to premises in hard-to-reach areas that are unlikely to be otherwise reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the coverage is of 5G in Dorset; and what steps he is taking to improve 5G coverage in rural areas.

I have raised my concerns about the reporting of mobile connectivity with Ofcom, but Ofcom reports that 5G is available outside 86% of premises across the Dorset local authority area from at least one mobile operator.

In order to realise the full economic and social benefits of 5G, our ambition is for all populated areas, including communities in rural areas, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We work closely with the mobile industry and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market. As part of this work, the Government intends to reform the planning system to make it easier to build digital infrastructure.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help tackle loneliness in rural areas.

This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural communities.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online platform which assists professionals who are working to reduce loneliness to connect and share learning, including those in rural areas. In April, the government extended the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, making up to £4.5 million available to tackle loneliness and increase volunteering. This will help improve social connections in 27 disadvantaged areas in England, 9 of which are rural and small urban areas.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is supporting rural communities to address loneliness through its funding support for the modernisation and improvement of village halls. A further £750k in grant funding has been made available in 2025/26. Village halls host the delivery of a wide range of essential services and wider social and recreational activities, which help to address social isolation.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support she plans to make available to increase after school transport in rural areas.

The department’s home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities are responsible for arranging free home-to-school travel for eligible children. A child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, a disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income families.

Local authorities’ duty is focused on ensuring children can attend school for the main school day, but public transport has an important role to play too. The Bus Services Bill will put the power over local bus services in the hands of local leaders to ensure networks can meet the needs of communities who rely on them.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students require transport to mainstream schools (a) nationally and (b) in Dorset.

The department has not routinely collected data about the number of children who have their home-to-school travel arranged by local authorities. We intend to improve this area, so that central and local government have the robust evidence required to inform decision making.

In February 2025, the department launched a voluntary data collection about the home-to-school travel arrangements local authorities make for eligible children. The data collection exercise closed in mid-March. We are currently analysing the data and will be sharing findings with local authorities.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT changes on (a) private schools and (b) demand on the state sector in North Dorset constituency.

The department has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in North Dorset specifically who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT impact on school fees.

Across the UK as a whole, including North Dorset, the government predicts, in the long-term steady state, there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in the private sector in the UK as a result of the removal of the VAT exemption applied to school fees. This represents around 6% of the current private school population.

Of the 37,000 pupil reduction in the private sector, the government estimates an increase of 35,000 pupils in the state sector in the steady state following the VAT policy taking effect, with the other 2,000 consisting of international pupils who do not move into the UK state system, and domestic pupils moving into homeschooling. This state sector increase represents less than 0.5% of total UK state school pupils, of which there are over 9 million. This movement is expected to take place over several years.

The impact on individual local authorities will interact with other pressures and vary. Every year lots of pupils move between schools, including between the private and state-funded sectors.

Local authorities routinely support parents who need a state-funded school place, including where private schools have closed. Where local authorities are experiencing difficulties in ensuring there are enough school places for children that need them, the department will offer support and advice.

The department provides capital funding through the basic need grant to support local authorities to provide school places, based on their own pupil forecasts and school capacity data. They can use this funding to provide places in new schools or through expansions of existing schools.

Dorset Council has been allocated just below £1.5 million to support the provision of new mainstream school places needed over the current and next two academic years, up to and including the academic year starting in September 2026.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mental health support the Government provides to farmers.

Delivery of mental health interventions sits with the Department for Health and Social Care, who are investing in mental health to ensure it receives the same attention as physical health. This includes the hiring of 8,500 new mental health support workers, which will reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to people’s homes – including in rural communities.

Defra is supporting farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. This aids organisations to deliver projects which will support mental health and build resilience in local farming communities. One recipient, the Farming Community Network, is using the funding to expand their FarmWell platform. This online resource is available to anyone and provides business and personal resilience advice on topics including mental health, isolation, depression and suicide.

Currently, grant recipients operate in Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and online via the FCN’s FarmWell platform. Subject to budget prioritisation, we aim to continue and expand support for mental health in the agricultural sector and increase the number of areas receiving grant funding.

The RPA also runs a Welfare Forum, which brings together England’s largest farming and welfare organisations that provide mental health support to discuss issues farmers are facing.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more young people into farming.

Encouraging more young people into farming and land-based careers is vital to ensure a skilled workforce is in place and the longer-term viability of the sector.

Defra works closely with The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) which is encouraging young people and new entrants into farming in its capacity as an industry led professional body for the farming industry. This includes leading a cross-industry initiative to address common negative misconceptions about the sector and providing free TIAH membership for students.

Furthermore, the Government has launched Skills England to ensure there is a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications for individuals and employers to access, which are aligned with skills gaps and what employers need. It will work with its partners to ensure that regional and national skills needs are met.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of farms that will be affected by changes made to agricultural property relief and Inheritance Tax at the Autumn Budget 2024 in (a) North Dorset constituency, (b) Dorset and (c) the UK.

Assessing the impact of the new Inheritance Tax policy, which comes into force from 6 April 2026, relies on a number of factors such as ownership structure and debt levels. Without such information, which the Government does not hold at that level, area level assessments cannot be made.

This Government is aware that each farm is different, and so we encourage farmers to speak to their tax advisors and agents to understand how these changes may impact their specific situation and how to plan for the future.

As an outcome of the recent Spending Review, we have committed £5 billion in the agricultural budget over the next two years – the biggest ever budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in this country’s history. This enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what further steps she plans to take to make rural bus routes sustainable.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in rural areas in North Dorset. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Dorset Council has been allocated £3.8 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to bus services in this Spending Review by confirming additional funding of around £900 million of revenue funding each year from 26/27 to maintain and improve vital bus services, including taking forward bus franchising pilots, and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish an analysis of the trends in bus usage for the full duration of the £2 bus cap.

The final monitoring and evaluation report into the impact of the £2 bus fare cap, including analysis on bus usage, was published on 12 February, and the Department does not plan to publish any further reports on the £2 fare cap.

Trends in bus usage will continue to be monitored and reported through the Department’s national statistics which are published annually.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of the £2 cap on fairs on the number of people using buses in (a) Dorset and (b) England.

The final monitoring and evaluation report into the impact of the £2 bus fare cap, including analysis on bus usage, was published on 12 February, and the Department does not plan to publish any further reports on the £2 fare cap.

Trends in bus usage will continue to be monitored and reported through the Department’s national statistics which are published annually.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the Road Investment Strategy 3; and what funding is available via that scheme.

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will cover the five-year period from April 2026 to March 2031. We expect to publish that Strategy at the end of 2025 with a draft Strategy published in the summer of 2025. An Interim Settlement for National Highways will be in place covering 2025-26.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions on employment rates (a) nationally, (b) in Dorset and (c) in North Dorset constituency in the next 12 months.

The Office for Budget Responsibility's October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) contains forecasts and assessments of government policy, including the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions.

The OBR expects the 16+ employment rate to remain relatively flat across the forecast, falling by 0.1ppts from 60.0% in 2024 to 59.9% in 2029. Paragraph 3.11 of the EFO provides a detailed analysis of the total impact of the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions on wages, profits and labour supply.

The OBR's forecast does not disaggregate these impacts by region or constituency.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure access to banking services in areas affected by bank closures.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Dorset and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide local residents and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. Over 100 banking hubs are already open.

FCA guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding will be made available to small and medium size businesses when transitional arrangements for the Rural England Prosperity Fund end.

After March 2026, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will end. Beyond this, the government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This includes:

  • Establishing a new local growth fund, including a 10-year capital settlement from 2026‑27 to 2035‑36, for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands with the highest productivity catch-up and agglomeration potential.
  • Investing in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, to fund interventions including community cohesion, regeneration and improving the public realm.

For local government as a whole, the government's funding reforms will move funding to the places that need it, ensuring that funding is targeted effectively at the places and services that need it most and allocated in a way that empowers local leaders to deliver against local priorities.

DBT will lead on the broader SME strategy setting out the government's vision for SMEs and we will work across government to ensure effective support.

Funding related to the Rural England Prosperity Fund is a matter for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
10th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding will be made available to small and medium size businesses when transitional arrangements for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund end.

After March 2026, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will end. Beyond this, the government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This includes:

  • Establishing a new local growth fund, including a 10-year capital settlement from 2026‑27 to 2035‑36, for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands with the highest productivity catch-up and agglomeration potential.
  • Investing in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, to fund interventions including community cohesion, regeneration and improving the public realm.

For local government as a whole, the government's funding reforms will move funding to the places that need it, ensuring that funding is targeted effectively at the places and services that need it most and allocated in a way that empowers local leaders to deliver against local priorities.

DBT will lead on the broader SME strategy setting out the government's vision for SMEs and we will work across government to ensure effective support.

Funding related to the Rural England Prosperity Fund is a matter for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
31st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the impact of the provision of council services in rural areas on the cost of those services in (a) North Dorset constituency and (b) other rural areas.

The government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive almost a 6% increase in their Core Spending Power (CSP) next year, which is a real terms increase. No council will see a reduction – and new funding will be available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments.

For Dorset Council this represents an increase of 5.9% in CSP - making available a total of up to £451.1 million in 2025-26.

The government is currently inviting views on how best to consider the impact of rurality on the costs of service delivery, and demand, as part of our longer-term consultation on local authority funding reform. Within this, we propose continuing to apply Area Cost Adjustments to account for relative cost differences between local authorities, including differences between rural and urban areas.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution in response to the hon. Member for North Dorset during the Oral Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, Official Report, column 53, when her Department will commence a review into fair funding for rural councils.

The government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities.

We are committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to fix the foundations of local government in partnership with the sector and on the principle of giving councils early certainty. As a core part of this plan, the government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities from 2026-27. We are inviting views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation (18 December – 12 February).

These reforms will build on the proposals set out in the previous government’s review of Relative Needs and Resources (also referred to as the ‘Fair Funding Review’), using the best available evidence to inform local authority funding allocations. We will move gradually towards an updated system and will invite views on possible transitional arrangements to determine how local authorities reach their new funding allocations.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the additional costs of providing council services in rural areas.

This government is committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural councils in England. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive around a 5% increase in their Core Spending Power next year, which is a real terms increase. No council will see a reduction – and new funding will be available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments.  The government is keen to hear from councils about how best to consider the impact of rurality on the costs of service delivery, and demand, as part of our longer term consultations on local authority funding reform.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress she has made on changing licensing in the funeral home sector.

Funeral directors have a profound responsibility to treat those who have died with the utmost dignity and respect and the majority of funeral directors conduct themselves in accordance with the high standards expected of them. However, the Government recognises that there are some significant concerns about certain practices within the funeral sector, as evidenced by the incident in Hull.

This is a complex and sensitive matter that demands careful consideration to ensure a response that effectively safeguards the public. It is crucial to protect the rights and dignity of those who have died and their grieving families, while implementing measures that are proportionate.

For that reason, the Government is thoroughly evaluating all potential next steps to ensure that the high standards upheld by many within the funeral director sector are consistently reflected throughout the entire industry. This includes the possibility of introducing suitable and proportionate regulation for funeral directors. Further updates on the next steps will be provided in due course and the Government will respond to the Fuller Inquiry when its part two report is published.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury