Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a violence reduction unit in Bournemouth to tackle knife crime.
Answered by Laura Farris
Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) can play a key role in the implementation of a whole-system, or public-health, approach to tackling violence. The value of such approaches is recognised in the Government’s 2018 Serious Violence Strategy.
Since 2019, the Government has provided over £160m to support the implementation of VRUs, with a further £55m invested in 23/24. Violence is strongly linked to specific geographies and to ensure maximum impact, this funding is targeted at 20 force areas that collectively experience the highest volumes of violent offences (around 80% of relevant offences). In light of the number of violent offences taking place in the Dorset Force area, Dorset does not currently meet the threshold for VRU funding specifically.
We recognise, however, that a public health approach can still have value in areas with comparatively lower levels of violence, and that is why in 2023, we introduced the Serious Violence Duty, which requires specified authorities across England and Wales to work together to plan to prevent and reduce serious violence in their local areas. Local areas may choose to implement VRU-style partnerships as part of their work to fulfil obligations arising under the Duty. Useful information for those wishing to do so can be found here: Violence Reduction Units 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Government remains committed to providing the resources needed to tackle violent crime. We have provided funding to support implementation of the Duty, which for Dorset, amounts to £292k in 23/24, and we have also recently confirmed Dorset’s police funding settlement of £179.8 million in 2024/25, an increase of up to £11.1 million when compared to 2023/24. In addition, in recognition of recent exceptional policing demand arising in Bournemouth, we are pleased to have recently approved, on an exceptional basis, an additional £600k in 23/24 to enable Dorset Police to respond to this pressure.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
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 improve the quality of coastal water in Bournemouth.
Answered by Robbie Moore
The Dorset/Hampshire coastal waterbody extends from Portland Bill to the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. Its Water Framework regulations status overall is Good. It is considered ‘Probably At Risk’ due to alien species. The Environment Agency (EA) are taking no direct local action in this regard as global warming and shipping are the main risk factors.
Most bathing waters in the vicinity are classified as Excellent. Boscombe Pier bathing water is classified as Good. It was subject to an investigation by Wessex Water in the 2020 - 2025 investment round. This has been completed and no water company interventions were identified that would improve bathing water quality to a robust Excellent status.
There are a handful of storm overflows that discharge to Poole Bay. As a minimum, Wessex Water will be required to reduce spill frequencies to ensure at least Good bathing water quality at local beaches by 2035 under the requirements of the Environment Act. The EA have significantly driven up monitoring and transparency from water companies in recent years, so that everyone can see how often and for how long storm overflows are used. All the data is published online. The operation of local storm overflows are included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”. This site includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings. Further details of this service can be found at http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to help ensure that the planned rail upgrades by Network Rail to Pokesdown for Boscombe Station in Bournemouth East are completed in 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman
I will shortly be meeting with officials and Network Rail to assess timescales which were previously communicated to Parliament. I will provide an update to the Rt Hon Member in writing thereafter.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made with international counterparts of the extent to which foreign states were involved in the drone attack on the Tower 22 US base in Jordan on 28 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We strongly condemn attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups against US forces. We continue to urge Iran to de-escalate in the region. Our thoughts are with those US personnel who have sustained injuries, as well as their families.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to support high street businesses in Bournemouth.
Answered by Jacob Young
Bournemouth is the recipient of a £21.7 million Town Deal which incorporates several projects that are indirectly supporting High Street businesses. Boscombe High Street is receiving £328,000 of investment via the Town Deal for local shop owners to improve their store frontage and breathe new life into the area by improving the appearance of buildings, public spaces and areas.
In 2023, Bournemouth received nearly £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund for seafront regeneration projects including the installation of digital communications along the promenade to encourage pop-up businesses in a key tourist area. Bournemouth has received over £4 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, of which £2.5 million will fund business support to businesses in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area including those in town and district centres.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a sliding scale of VAT rates for companies according to revenue.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The Government recognises that accounting for VAT can be a burden on small businesses. This is why, at £85,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU Member State and the second highest in the OECD. This keeps the majority of UK businesses out of VAT altogether.
Views on the VAT registration threshold are divided and the case for change has been regularly reviewed over the years. The Government consulted on how the design of the VAT registration threshold could better incentivise growth. However, there was no clear option for reform.
The Government announced at Autumn Budget 2022 that the VAT threshold will be maintained at its current level of £85,000 until 31 March 2026.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to support local councils with high debt levels.
Answered by Simon Hoare
Local government in England will see an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion next year, or 7.5% in cash terms, an above-inflation increase, rising from £60.2 billion in 2023-24 to up to £64.7 billion in 2024-25. Councils must manage the costs of borrowing as part of their overall financial position, and should ensure that all borrowing is prudent, affordable, and sustainable.
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act provides new powers for central government to step in when councils take on excessive risk through disproportionate debt. It will also provide powers to address risk from historic practices. We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to manage its finances or faces pressures it has not planned for.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of driving under the influence of (a) drugs and (b) alcohol offences in (i) the South West and (ii) Bournemouth.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department approaches drink and drug driving enforcement from a national perspective.
We have tough penalties in place, with our highly respected and effective ‘THINK!’ campaigns reminding people of the serious consequences driving under the influence of drink can have on themselves and others.
Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department is providing for road resurfacing in Bournemouth.
Answered by Guy Opperman
During the current financial year the Department is providing Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council with £6,240,800 of capital funding for highway maintenance. This represents a funding increase of around 30% compared to the amount it was receiving in 2022/23.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of the drone attack on the Tower 22 US base in Jordan on 28 January 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence continuously monitors the security situation within the region, including following the attack on the Tower 22 base. The UK remains firmly committed to the Global Coalition Against Daesh and we are working with our partners across the region to promote regional stability.