Written questions by Morello.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training provided to firefighters responding to mental health crises.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 89240 on 18 November 2025. Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are responsible for ensuring that firefighters receive the training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents that they attend. The National Fire Chiefs Council maintains national operational guidance for fire and rescue services to draw upon when developing operational policies, procedures and training. The Fire and Rescue National Framework requires all FRAs to work collaboratively with partner agencies such as the NHS, mental health services and the police, and to integrate training reflecting current societal risks such as mental health crises. Each FRA must align its training and response strategies to meet these national policy expectations.

Communities and Local Government, when devolution proposals for Wessex will be considered by his Department.

Regular meetings are held between officers from local authorities in Wessex and officials this Department on a range of topics important to the area, including devolution. Ministers have also exchanged views in correspondence with local leaders, in which we have been clear that decisions on future devolution will be subject to further ministerial decisions and local conversations.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with councils in Wessex on a devolution settlement.

Regular meetings are held between officers from local authorities in Wessex and officials this Department on a range of topics important to the area, including devolution. Ministers have also exchanged views in correspondence with local leaders, in which we have been clear that decisions on future devolution will be subject to further ministerial decisions and local conversations.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve access to housing for renters without traditional forms of affordability evidence.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances. Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account. Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property. The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make rental payments acceptable as proof of affordability for housing applications.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances. Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account. Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property. The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy will be sustainable and good landlords already assess tenant suitability on the basis of individual’s circumstances. Landlords and agents remain free to undertake referencing and affordability checks with a view to ascertaining whether a tenancy is sustainable. This may include a history of rental payments, but other available referencing criteria can also be taken into account. Where a private landlord or agent is not satisfied by the outcome of pre-tenancy checks, there remain options available to provide further reassurance such as requiring a tenant to provide a guarantor. Professional guarantor services are also available and can help prospective tenants acquire a guarantor in circumstances where they otherwise would not have been able to do so. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property. The government has no current plans to legislate to require social or private landlords and agents to accept rental payment history as proof of affordability.

Communities and Local Government, what his Department's housing targets are per square mile in (a) Dorset, (b) West Dorset constituency and (c) England.

Local housing need is expressed as a total number of dwellings for each local authority area. It is not broken down as a proportion of the population, nor as a proportion of available brownfield land or per square mile.

Communities and Local Government, what his Department's housing targets are as a proportion of available brownfield land in (a) Dorset, (b) West Dorset constituency and (c) England.

Local housing need is expressed as a total number of dwellings for each local authority area. It is not broken down as a proportion of the population, nor as a proportion of available brownfield land or per square mile.

Communities and Local Government, what his Department's housing targets are as a proportion of the population in (a) Dorset and (b) West Dorset constituency.

Local housing need is expressed as a total number of dwellings for each local authority area. It is not broken down as a proportion of the population, nor as a proportion of available brownfield land or per square mile.

Communities and Local Government, what the mandatory housing targets are for (a) Dorset, (b) West Dorset constituency and (c) the South East for 2025-29.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament. Indicative local housing need figures resulting from the new Standard Method can be found on gov.uk here. Indicative figures have not been provided for West Dorset constituency, as it falls under Dorset Council. Planning Practice Guidance is clear that plan-making authorities should use the most up-to-date data available when assessing housing need.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to provide alternative financial support to communities in West Dorset following the removal of Government funding for neighbourhood plans.

Following the Spending Review, my Department announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards. Two neighbourhood planning groups in West Dorset are in receipt of technical support which has already been awarded but must be completed by March 2026. The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests. Parish and Town Councils have access to their own resources which they can choose to use for neighbourhood planning if they wish.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the removal of Government funding for neighbourhood plans does not reduce community input into planning decisions in West Dorset.

Following the Spending Review, my Department announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards. Two neighbourhood planning groups in West Dorset are in receipt of technical support which has already been awarded but must be completed by March 2026. The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests. Parish and Town Councils have access to their own resources which they can choose to use for neighbourhood planning if they wish.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the discontinuation of funding of support services for the preparation of neighbourhood plans does not reduce community input into planning decisions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 66166 on 21 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Dorset Council to identify potential brownfield sites for housing development.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses. Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas. On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals. No brownfield land and infrastructure remediation funding is currently available in West Dorset. However, on 18 June 2025 my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in Government funding for neighbourhood plans on rural communities in West Dorset constituency.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on the 19 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to provide alternative financial support to communities in West Dorset constituency following reductions in Government funding for neighbourhood plans.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on the 19 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of automatic planning permission for extending helipad operation hours at major trauma hospitals.

Operating hours are usually set locally, by condition, following the grant of planning permission. If there are conditions restricting operating hours, these can be varied or removed through a section 73 application following local consideration of the benefits and any local impacts.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the complexity of cases handled by advice services.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to fund advice services.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase funding for advice services in West Dorset constituency.

At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.