Written questions by Morello.

Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) funding and (b) other support his Department is providing to farmers to transition to more sustainable agricultural practices in West Dorset constituency.

Defra’s farming budget will be £2.4 billion in 2025/26. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This funding will deliver improvements to food security, biodiversity, carbon emissions, water quality, air quality and flood resilience. Environmental Land Management schemes will remain at the centre of our offer for farmers, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing. These offer funding streams for farmers to make their businesses more sustainable and resilient, including those who have been often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenant farmers. We will work with the sector to continue to roll out, improve and evolve these schemes, to make them work for farming and nature.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle plastic pollution in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas.

This Government is committed to tackling all pollution, including plastic pollution. To reduce plastic pollution Defra has focused efforts on the most commonly used and littered plastic items. Bans and restrictions on single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, straws, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, drink stirrers, expanded and extruded polystyrene takeaway containers, plates, bowls and microbeads have been introduced, as well as the single-use carrier bag charge. To further reduce plastic pollution, this Government is committed to delivering the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in October 2027, as agreed with the devolved governments of the UK, and in accordance with the Joint Policy Statement published in April 2024.  It is estimated that the DRS could lead to an 85% reduction in litter of in-scope items, which includes plastic drinks containers. At this stage, the Government has not yet made an assessment of what further actions to take to address the specific challenges associated with rural plastic pollution. Any new policies will be announced in the ordinary manner.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department plans to provide to help manage the increased flood risk for rural areas prone to (a) river and (b) surface flooding in the 2025-26 financial year.

Across England, we will invest £2.4 billion over the next two years to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The list of projects to receive Government funding in 2025/26 will be consented over the coming months in the usual way through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with (a) local authorities and (b) businesses to help reduce plastic waste.

The Government is committed to moving to a circular economy. As a part of this transition, managing and reducing plastic waste and following the principles of the waste hierarchy – reduce, reuse, recycle – will be crucial. Defra engages with and supports industry through the UK Plastics Pact to tackle plastic waste and pollution. The pact's membership represents two-thirds of all consumer packaging in the UK. Members have reduced their problematic and unnecessary plastic items by 84% since 2018. On 24 October 2024, the Government laid the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 in Parliament. This statutory instrument shifts the costs of managing household packaging waste (including plastic packaging waste) from taxpayers and local authorities to those businesses who use and supply the packaging. This policy will generate over £1 billion annually to support local authority waste and recycling collection and disposal services – benefiting every household in the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to support local businesses in West Dorset Constituency to access (a) funding and (b) incentives for local net-zero projects.

Small and medium-sized businesses can visit the UK Business Climate Hub, which is run in partnership with Government, for advice and support on reducing emissions. Climate Change Agreements provide tax discounts for businesses reducing their emissions, and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition.

What steps his Department is taking to help support communities in rural areas to access (a) funding and (b) other incentives for net-zero projects.

Government recognises the important role community groups play in our efforts to tackle climate change and offers support for the sector. Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will support communities to roll out small and medium scale renewable energy projects, providing commercial, technical and project‑planning assistance, increasing their capability and capacity to build a pipeline of successful projects in their local areas. Government also supports the sector through the £10 million Community Energy Fund, which allows both rural and urban communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risk of coastal erosion on (a) agricultural land and (b) rural infrastructure.

England has some of the most rapidly eroding coast in Europe due to natural processes. Climate change, sea level rise and increased storminess will increase the rate of change, which will threaten the resilience of coastal communities if no action is taken. In January 2025, the Environment Agency (EA) will publish the updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map for England. This is based on a further ten years of coastal monitoring data, the latest climate change evidence and technical input from coastal local authorities. It will provide the best available information on coastal erosion risk and be used by coastal local authorities and the EA to inform coastal management investment and local planning decisions. The new data and map will include coastal erosion projections through this century, including the effects of climate change and provide an updated assessment of properties, infrastructure and agricultural land at risk. It takes account of the latest coastal management approaches set out in Shoreline Management Plans. To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over the next two years to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. We are investing £36 million supporting local authorities in East Riding of Yorkshire, North Norfolk and Dorset to explore innovative approaches in adapting to the effects of coastal erosion.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage afforestation projects to (a) enhance biodiversity and (b) reduce carbon emissions.

Total tree planting and woodland creation reached over 5,500 hectares in England in 2023/24. All publicly subsidised afforestation projects must comply with the UK Forestry Standards (UKFS) requirements. The UKFS has been developed specifically for forestry in the UK and is based on applying internationally agreed criteria which support the delivery of sustainable forest management and recognise the need to balance environmental, economic and social objectives. The England Woodland Creation Offer includes supplements that incentivise the creation of native woodland with high biodiversity potential. Biodiversity Net Gain also offers opportunities to create new woodlands that enhance biodiversity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of coastal erosion on (a) agricultural land and (b) rural infrastructure.

England has some of the most rapidly eroding coast in Europe due to natural processes. Climate change, sea level rise and increased storminess will increase the rate of change, which will threaten the resilience of coastal communities if no action is taken. In January 2025, the Environment Agency (EA) will publish the updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map for England. This is based on a further ten years of coastal monitoring data, the latest climate change evidence and technical input from coastal local authorities. It will provide the best available information on coastal erosion risk and be used by coastal local authorities and the EA to inform coastal management investment and local planning decisions. The new data and map will include coastal erosion projections through this century, including the effects of climate change and provide an updated assessment of properties, infrastructure and agricultural land at risk. It takes account of the latest coastal management approaches set out in Shoreline Management Plans. To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over the next two years to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. We are investing £36 million supporting local authorities in East Riding of Yorkshire, North Norfolk and Dorset to explore innovative approaches in adapting to the effects of coastal erosion.

What steps his Department is taking to provide (a) administrative and (b) financial support to help rural off-grid households switch to low-carbon heating solutions in West Dorset.

The ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in Your Home’ tool on Gov.uk provides homeowners, including those living off the gas grid, with impartial and tailored advice on how to retrofit their homes. The website can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency. Regarding financial support for upgrades, there are a number of schemes providing financial assistance to help rural off-grid households switch to low carbon heating including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Home Upgrade Grant, Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation scheme. We have also announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant, with delivery expected in 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to support people in rural communities to (a) transition to renewable energy sources and (b) maintain local environmental protections.

Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will support both rural and urban communities to roll out small and medium scale renewable energy projects, providing commercial, technical and project‑planning assistance, increasing their capability and capacity to build a pipeline of successful projects in their local areas. Renewable projects are subject to planning controls to protect local communities and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to ensure that water companies do not allow storm sewage overflows to impact (a) rivers and (b) coastal areas in West Dorset constituency.

The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address water companies who are not performing for the environment or their customers. In July, we announced swift action to begin resetting the water sector, including ringfencing vital funding for infrastructure investment and placing customers and the environment at the heart of water company objectives. In September, Government introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers. Furthermore, on 23 October, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system, to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. All storm overflows in the West Dorset constituency are now fitted with event duration monitors and, from January 2025, water companies will have a duty to publish spill frequency and duration data in near real-time.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 24 September 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including proposals to reduce the administrative requirements for the owners of listed buildings who are seeking planning permissions.

Further to my answer to Question UIN 10200 on 29 October 2024, as the Government takes forward its programme of planning reform we will consider the need for guidance to support listed building owners and look for opportunities to improve the heritage planning process.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to provide additional (a) support and (b) guidance to the owners of listed buildings in West Dorset constituency on her proposed changes to the planning framework.

Further to my answer to Question UIN 10200 on 29 October 2024, as the Government takes forward its programme of planning reform we will consider the need for guidance to support listed building owners and look for opportunities to improve the heritage planning process.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the amount of funding provided to community pharmacies for delivering primary healthcare services.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists as we shift care from hospital to the community.Now that the budget for Government has been set, we will shortly be resuming our consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding the funding arrangements for 2024/25. We are unable to say more until these have been concluded.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing more clarity to Local Plans and Design Codes in order for Community Land Trusts to develop land for their local communities.

The Government intends to introduce a package of plan-making reforms next year which will make the process of preparing local development plans clearer and more transparent, as well as making it easier for communities and stakeholders, including Community Land Trusts, to engage with it.National design guidance already highlights the importance of community consultation in the preparation of design codes. To assist neighbourhoods in preparing their own codes the department have also supported Locality, a national membership network of local community organisations, including Community Land Trusts, providing specialist advice, peer learning and resources.In addition, our recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework specifically included proposals designed to strengthen support for community-led housing, including changes to the size limit on community-led exception sites and a broadening of the definition of organisations able to deliver community-led housing. The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of GP appointments in West Dorset constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP), we know that this applies to the constituents of West Dorset, and we are committed to fixing the crisis in GPs. West Dorset sits within the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, where the number of appointments delivered in August 2024 was 396,000. In August 2023, 409,000 appointments were delivered. This is a decrease of 3.2%.Our plan will require both investment and reform. Firstly, we will increase the proportion of funding for GPs, starting with a commitment to recruit over 1,000 newly qualified GPs through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in GPs, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and take pressure off those currently working in the system.Additionally, we will deliver a modern booking system to end the 8:00am scramble for GP appointments and will bring back the family doctor by incentivising GPs to see the same patient.

What steps his Department is taking to support community pharmacies in providing primary healthcare consultations.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists as we shift care from hospital to the community.Now that the budget for Government has been set, we will shortly be resuming our consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding the funding arrangements for 2024/25. We are unable to say more until these have been concluded.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, of the potential impact of a lack of nest sites, including buildings, on Red Listed cavity-nesting birds.

Cavity nesting birds in England that use buildings, and which are on the Red List (Birds of Conservation Concern), are the house sparrow, house martin, swift and starling. While Defra has not made an assessment of the potential impact of a lack of nest sites, Natural England, working with its partners, has identified that the lack of nest sites is one of the pressures on these species. Therefore, provision of nest boxes may aid recovery alongside other actions, such as to increase food resources.

What steps his Department is taking to provide health services for disabled people in isolated areas.

Under the NHS Act 2006, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care must promote a comprehensive health service in England.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for the planning and delivery of health and care services in their local area, including meeting the needs of disabled people in rural communities. Local priorities are set out in the integrated care strategy, which must be informed by local assessments of need. The Department published updated statutory guidance on integrated care strategies in February 2024.The importance of supporting rural communities has been recognised by the Chief Medical Officer in his reports, which also recognised the role played by ICSs in understanding local needs and arranging services to meet these needs.