Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bus routes have been lost in Dorset since 2010.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Buses in England outside London were deregulated by the Transport Act 1985 and are largely operated on a commercial basis, with bus operators responsible for decisions about routes and service levels. Consequently, local networks were often determined by commercial viability, and the Department does not hold data on local routes loss.
The Government is committed to delivering better buses nationwide through the Bus Services Act 2025 which put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England. Giving local leaders the powers to choose the model that works best for their area, whether it be bus franchising, strengthened Enhanced Partnerships or local authority bus companies, Government is working to ensure services reflect local community’s needs.
The Act includes a socially necessary local services measure. This requires local authorities to identify those services they consider are socially necessary. If withdrawal or substantial variation of these services is considered, the local authority and operator must work together to consider all possible options before making any significant changes. This layer of transparency ensures that the needs of the passenger remain at the centre of any decision-making process.
Dorset Council will receive £12.2 million under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) from 2026/27 until 2028/29, in addition to the £3.8 million already received in 2025/26. Local authorities have the flexibility to use this grant to deliver the best outcomes for passengers in their area, whether through lower fares, more frequent services, or enhanced rural bus provision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what political appointments have been made to roles within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since July 2000; and what the role and remuneration is for each appointee.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Since July 2000, the following individuals with political backgrounds have been appointed to ambassadorial or high commissioner roles:
Alastair Goodlad, High Commissioner to Australia (2000-2005);
Helen Liddell, High Commissioner to Australia (2005-2009);
Paul Boateng, High Commissioner to South Africa (2005-2009);
Baroness Amos, High Commissioner to Australia (2009-2010);
Edward Llewellyn, Ambassador to France (2016-2021);
Sir George Hollingbery, Ambassador to Cuba ( 2021 - 2025);
Sir Edward Llewellyn, Ambassador to Italy and San Marino (2022 - 2026); and
Lord Mandelson, Ambassador to the United States of America (2025).
Ambassadors and High Commissioners are appointed by His Majesty on the recommendation of the Foreign Secretary under the Royal Prerogative. Most are career members of the Diplomatic Service, although appointments may also be made from outside the Diplomatic Service.
Information relating to the remuneration of individual appointees is personal information and is not routinely disclosed.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bus routes have been lost in West Dorset since 2010.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Buses in England outside London were deregulated by the Transport Act 1985 and are largely operated on a commercial basis, with bus operators responsible for decisions about routes and service levels. Consequently, local networks were often determined by commercial viability, and the Department does not hold data on local routes loss.
The Government is committed to delivering better buses nationwide through the Bus Services Act 2025 which put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England. Giving local leaders the powers to choose the model that works best for their area, whether it be bus franchising, strengthened Enhanced Partnerships or local authority bus companies, Government is working to ensure services reflect local community’s needs.
The Act includes a socially necessary local services measure. This requires local authorities to identify those services they consider are socially necessary. If withdrawal or substantial variation of these services is considered, the local authority and operator must work together to consider all possible options before making any significant changes. This layer of transparency ensures that the needs of the passenger remain at the centre of any decision-making process.
Dorset Council will receive £12.2 million under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) from 2026/27 until 2028/29, in addition to the £3.8 million already received in 2025/26. Local authorities have the flexibility to use this grant to deliver the best outcomes for passengers in their area, whether through lower fares, more frequent services, or enhanced rural bus provision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the experience of constituents in West Dorset using the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to resolve complaints against public bodies.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is an independent body, accountable to Parliament. The work and performance of the PHSO is scrutinised by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Where complainants in West Dorset, as well as all regions of the country, are dissatisfied with decisions made by the PHSO they are entitled to understand how those decisions were reached. The PHSO’s Service Charter includes the commitment to explain its decisions and recommendations and how it reached them.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to fire and rescue services in areas at high risk of wildfires to increase specialist personnel, equipment and operational capacity.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Local Government Finance Settlement made available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England. We work closely with fire and rescue services to ensure they can prepare for and manage local risks. Decisions on how fire and rescue authorities use their resources and equipment to meet those risks are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
We’re investing nearly £100 million in the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, part of which includes more specialist equipment and wildfire training for firefighters that can deploy nationally to support in wildfires across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to fire and rescue services for specialist wildfire personal protective equipment.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Local Government Finance Settlement made available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England. We work closely with fire and rescue services to ensure they can prepare for and manage local risks. Decisions on how fire and rescue authorities use their resources and equipment to meet those risks are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
We’re investing nearly £100 million in the biggest upgrade of national resilience capabilities in nearly twenty years, part of which includes more specialist equipment and wildfire training for firefighters that can deploy nationally to support in wildfires across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many individuals have been shortlisted for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2000 but were not subsequently appointed.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold information on individuals who were considered for appointment but not subsequently appointed over the period specified.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what process is used to shortlist and assess candidates for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Appointment processes vary according to the role concerned. Ambassadorial and High Commissioner appointments are made by His Majesty on the recommendation of Foreign Secretary under the Royal Prerogative. Candidates are assessed against the requirements of the post including skills, experience and relevant experience needed to undertake the role successfully. Most appointees are members of the Diplomatic Service, although appointments may also be made from outside the Diplomatic Service.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reasons individuals shortlisted for political appointments within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2000 were not subsequently appointed.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not maintain records of individuals who were considered for appointment but were not subsequently appointed over the period specified.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on roads policing provision between urban and rural communities.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to support effective roads policing and road safety enforcement as part of wider efforts to reduce casualties and tackle criminality on the road network. The Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, sets out a comprehensive plan to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. Roads policing is recognised as a national policing capability and forces are expected to maintain appropriate capabilities to help prevent harm, save lives and support road safety.
In 2026-27, Dorset Police will receive up to £204.5 million in funding, an increase of up to £8.7 million compared with 2025-26. The deployment of police officers and allocation of roads policing resources, including on the A35 and other roads in West Dorset, are operational matters for the Chief Constable of Dorset Police, who is best placed to assess local threats, risks and demands. The Home Office does not assess roads policing coverage on specific roads or in individual localities and has made no specific assessment of the impact of roads policing levels on the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions in West Dorset. It is the responsibility for Police and Crime Commissioners to set local policing priorities and to hold Chief Constables to account.