Written questions by Morello.

What steps his Department is taking to improve early diagnosis and treatment options for people with secondary breast cancer in rural areas such as West Dorset.

Improving early diagnosis, access to treatments, and support across England are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including for those living with secondary breast cancer in West Dorset and rural constituencies.To ensure that people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer have timely access to new and innovative treatments, NHS England commissioned a National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer, which provides timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. The purpose of the audit was to identify information to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The National Health Service is now acting on those findings, including for patients in West Dorset.NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs), including those in Dorset and rural constituencies. This process is independent of Government, and NHS England takes advice on the underlying formula from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. ICB’s are responsible for commissioning healthcare which best meets the needs of their local populations, including treatment and support for secondary breast cancer.To improve early diagnosis rates all over the country, including in West Dorset and rural areas, the Department and NHS England are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. The Department is also committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment, so that people with cancer, including secondary breast cancer, can get access to the care they need more quickly. The NHS is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.

What the estimated total turnover of non-VAT registered companies is.

Information on companies that are not VAT registered is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing wine duty to 14 per cent on British wine producers.

The wine industry makes a vital contribution to our economy and society. We also know the sector has found economic conditions challenging over the past few years, in part due to the pandemic, energy costs, and the cost-of-living crisis. As you know, a cut, or even a freeze, to alcohol duty represents a cost to the Exchequer. The baseline assumption is that alcohol duty will be increased annually, so that it does not fall in real terms. As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations from stakeholders to inform policy development.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of counter-terrorism training provided to frontline emergency services in non-metropolitan areas.

Our emergency services regularly train together to test different scenarios. We keep our preparedness under constant review, and the response to a range of terrorist threats is exercised regularly at both local and national levels, allowing responder organisations to learn lessons and embed best practice.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department provides to support the development of sustainable coastal defences (a) by communities living in coastal areas at risk of erosion and (b) in Charmouth.

As part of the £2.65 billion FCRM Investment programme for flood and coastal risk reduction, approximately £500 million is being invested in coastal projects across the country to better protect people and properties. The Environment Agency manages the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes (FCIP) which runs between 2021-2027. £3 million is allocated to Future Coast Dorset, which includes Future Coast Charmouth. This will help communities to manage their changing coasts and become more resilient. Defra’s Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant also provides financial assistance to local authorities to support them with the cost of demolishing properties at imminent risk of loss from coastal erosion.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of car parking charges on (a) access to outdoor walking spaces and (b) public health.

Car parking charges for publicly-owned car parks are primarily a matter for local authorities. Local actions can encourage sustainable travel choices and reduce car dependency, potentially enhancing air quality and promoting active lifestyles, and local authorities are responsible for assessing the impacts of their policies.The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing, and has committed to creating nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, expanding access to the great outdoors.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with supermarkets on (a) the adequacy of the prices they pay to producers and (b) the potential merits of buying more produce from vertical farms.

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020, we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, across the range of horticultural production systems, from unfair commercial practices. We are currently developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations are designed to strengthen supply chain fairness and ensure all horticulture producers have clear and balanced contracts, which may include prohibiting practices such as cancelling orders at short notice. As part of this work, we are engaging with retailers, producers, experts and other representatives of the horticulture sector to ensure the regulations are workable and effective.

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in collaboration with Ukraine.

The UK and partners will continue to ensure we equip Ukraine as best we can in line with their priority needs to defend its sovereign territory to ensure we put them in the strongest possible position. This includes the provision of UGVs to Ukraine. The UK and Ukraine signed a Framework Arrangement on Defence Material Cooperation, in April 2024, which will enable the UK and Ukraine to jointly develop, manufacture and upgrade battlefield winning capabilities that will sustain and enhance the defence industries of both countries. A number of these technologies will be applicable to UGVs as well as wider uncrewed systems.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to allocate additional funding for flood prevention in West Dorset constituency.

The Government is investing record levels in flood protection. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are investing £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country. This is £1.4 billion on average each year – a 5% increase on the current average of £1.33 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26. The list of projects to receive Government funding will be consented on an annual basis through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of helipad accessibility on patient outcomes in air ambulance transfers.

No such discussions have been held. Air ambulances form a vital part of the emergency response to patients in critical need. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with NHS England and the Department for Transport to ensure that there is appropriate helipad accessibility available for air ambulances across the country.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to protect the use of the title Child Psychotherapist.

Titles can only be protected for statutorily regulated professions. The title of ’child psychotherapist’ is not currently protected in law in the United Kingdom and the Government has no plans to regulate child psychotherapists. No discussions have taken place with charities on protecting the title of ‘child psychotherapist’.

Whether he has had discussions with charities on the potential merits of protecting the title Child Psychotherapist.

Titles can only be protected for statutorily regulated professions. The title of ’child psychotherapist’ is not currently protected in law in the United Kingdom and the Government has no plans to regulate child psychotherapists. No discussions have taken place with charities on protecting the title of ‘child psychotherapist’.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of illegal e-bikes on levels of road safety.

Only e-bikes that are fully compliant with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are legal to use on the roads. The Government agrees that the use of e-bikes that are not compliant with regulations has a negative impact on road safety.The Government treats road safety very seriously, and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more detail in due course.

How many people referred to the Prevent programme were identified as linked to far-right extremism in the last 12 months.

Prevent aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions and support, and that communities are protected against radicalising influences.In the year ending March 2024, a total of 1,314 people were recorded as having been referred to Prevent due to extreme right-wing concerns. The Home Office produces annual statistics setting out the number of individuals referred to Prevent by type of concern. Below are the latest published figures, year ending March 2024.This information, together with further information about Prevent referrals and Channel cases can be found on GOV.UK Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics - GOV.UK.Referrals for the period April 2024 to March 2025 will be released later this year in the upcoming publication “Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme: to March 2025”. As per official statistics guidelines under the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are unable to release these statistics ahead of the formal publication date. More information on this forthcoming publication will be pre-announced on the statistics release calendar which can be found on the GOV.UK website: Statistics release calendar (www.gov.uk).

Whether her Department is taking steps with Dorset Council to tackle the use of illegal e-bikes in West Dorset constituency.

E-bikes can only be legally used on the roads where they comply in full with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has a market surveillance unit and has the powers to act against retailers selling non-compliant e-bikes across the country, including in West Dorset.Where such e-bikes are used on the roads, the police have powers to seize them. The powers for the police to act are being strengthened in the Crime and Policing Bill, so that the police will no longer be required to provide a warning before seizing any vehicle, including an e-bike, where it is being used anti-socially.

How many people referred to the Prevent programme were identified as linked to far-right extremism in West Dorset constituency in the last 12 months.

The Home Office produces annual statistics setting out the number of individuals referred to Prevent by type of concern and region. The number of referrals made to the Prevent programme in the South West region, in which the area you ask is contained, is provided in the table below. These are the latest published figures, year ending March 2024.This information, together with further information about Prevent referrals and Channel cases can be found on GOV.UK Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics - GOV.UK.Referrals for the period April 2024 to March 2025 will be released later this year in the upcoming publication "Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme: to March 2025". As per official statistics guidelines under the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are unable to release these statistics ahead of the formal publication date. More information on this forthcoming publication will be pre-announced on the statistics release calendar which can be found on the GOV.UK website: Statistics release calendar (www.gov.uk).

Food and Rural Affairs, what the expected costs are for consultancy services in relation to the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme in Charmouth.

The Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme for Charmouth and Swanage is being delivered through Dorset Council as the lead authority, with support from the Environment Agency, under the ‘Future Coast Dorset’ project.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on flood resilience in West Dorset constituency.

The Environment Agency (EA) works in partnership with Dorset Council to improve flood resilience across the county. Engagement on flood resilience takes place where the risk is highest and where the highest numbers of flooded properties are reported. Through an active flood warden programme, the EA engage regularly with volunteers and Town and Parish Councils and provide them with Flood Action Guides, flood resilience newsletters and additional information to help raise flood risk awareness, preparedness, and resilience. Recently 17 West Dorset Communities and Dorset Council were represented at lunch and learn sessions. New targeted Flood Warning Areas (FWAs) are identified based on risk using overtopping rates and working with other organisations. Several properties have had Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid investment into Property Flood Resilience in West Dorset, including over 25 in Sydling St Nicholas where a community test event is planned in the autumn.

Whether her Department has issued guidance for local councils to deal with far-right extremism in community groups.

The Home Office recognises the importance of this issue, and the Prevent Duty Guidance notes that “Extreme Right-Wing ideology is resurgent.”Prevent tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation. We work continually to ensure Prevent is ready to respond to all radicalisation risks. This includes developing our understanding of the range of factors that lead to someone being drawn into terrorism.Prevent is run locally by experts who understand the risks and issues in their area, and how best to support their communities. These experts include local authorities, the Police, charities and community organisations.Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Fund.In the year March 2023 to March 2024, 19% of Prevent funded projects focused solely on building resilience to Extreme Right-Wing (ERWT) ideology, and a further 57% focussed on both Islamist Extremist (IE) and ERWT ideology.In the current funding year March 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office has received 78 project bids from local authorities. Of those bids, 15% solely focus on Extreme Right Wing ideology with a further 54% of bids covering both Islamist Extremism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies.Our Prevent local delivery model ensures every local authority has ready access to expertise, guidance and support in tackling local radicalisation and extremism risks via a team of region-based expert Prevent Advisers, who work hand-in-hand with local partners across England, Scotland and Wales.By working with and upskilling these local experts who best understand the risks and issues in their area, we are improving our ability to help frontline workers identify and protect those most susceptible to radicalisation.Analytical teams within the Home Office assess all available information, including material from these local experts, in order to maintain the most up to date picture of the current risks and threats pertaining to radicalisation. This includes issues affecting rural areas and communities, and at a regional level across England, Scotland and Wales.Due to operational and legal sensitivities, the Home Office does not publish specific details of the current intelligence assessment picture.

What assessment his Department has made of the scope of responsibilities for the revised physician associate role.

The principle question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia, still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams. The Government has accepted all 18 of the review’s recommendations.NHS England has published a letter and a Frequently Asked Questions document, setting out what the accepted recommendations mean for employees and employers, both in the immediate and longer term. The Frequently Asked Questions document is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/leng-review-nhs-england-faqs-on-actions-for-nhs-organisations.pdfThe Leng Review’s recommendations are far reaching and require cross-system partnership working to be considered, planned, and delivered effectively. We will work with NHS England, royal colleges, unions, and other relevant stakeholders as we develop a clear implementation plan to address the review’s 18 recommendations. Further information on implementation will be set out in due course.