That this House recognises the vital role post offices play in supporting rural communities by providing access to banking, cash withdrawals and deposits, parcel services and essential retail facilities; notes that, following widespread high street bank closures, post offices have become the primary point of access to in-person banking for many residents, particularly older or digitally excluded people in rural economies such as West Dorset; further notes with concern that changes by banks to services available through post offices risk undermining their long-term viability and reducing access to essential services; further recognises the dedication of postal workers serving rural communities despite the challenges of longer delivery routes and dispersed populations; expresses concern that postal delivery performance remains well below target, with first-class mail delivery at 79.2% in the Dorchester postcode area against a 93% target; also notes persistent parcel delivery failures in rural areas from delivery companies like EVRI, including missed deliveries, inaccurate tracking, incorrect delivery locations and inadequate customer support; believes rural consumers deserve reliable and transparent postal and parcel services; and calls on the Government to support the long-term sustainability of the Post Office network, work with Royal Mail to improve rural delivery performance, strengthen Ofcom's oversight of parcel delivery operators, require retailers to inform customers at the point of purchase which courier will be used, and work with the Post Office, banks and other stakeholders to safeguard banking services, ensure key financial services remain available through post offices, and secure their future at the heart of communities.

That this House recognises the vital role post offices play in supporting rural communities by providing access to banking, cash withdrawals and deposits, parcel services and essential retail facilities; notes that, following widespread high street bank closures, post offices have become the primary point of access to in-person banking for...

That this House recognises that reliable mobile connectivity is essential infrastructure, yet rural areas such as West Dorset continue to experience persistent signal not-spots, including in Stoke Abbott, with serious human, economic and safety consequences; notes that in such communities residents have no mobile signal and are deeply concerned about the impact of the radio teleswitch and digital landline switch-off, particularly where one constituent was moved to digital voice without warning and left without a working phone line for days despite serious health conditions; further notes that in villages without mobile coverage the landline remains a vital lifeline, especially during power cuts; highlights cases where residents cannot contact emergency services, run businesses or access basic services, and where one constituent must travel daily for her pacemaker to transmit vital medical data; also notes that current Ofcom reporting relies on modelled data that masks real coverage gaps due to topography leading to poor enforcement of standard in rural areas, while local evidence shows significant street-level variation and seasonal drops of up to 50 percentage points; further recognises that digital inclusion can deliver a £9.48 return for every £1 invested and unlock over £200 billion in productivity by 2035; welcomes initiatives such as the Shared Rural Network but notes they have not closed the most severe gaps; and calls on the Government to mandate street-level coverage reporting, provide ringfenced funding for local digital capacity, reform planning and business rates for infrastructure, and prioritise rural connectivity to end digital exclusion.

That this House recognises that reliable mobile connectivity is essential infrastructure, yet rural areas such as West Dorset continue to experience persistent signal not-spots, including in Stoke Abbott, with serious human, economic and safety consequences; notes that in such communities residents have no mobile signal and are deeply concerned about...

That this House expresses concern at rising and unpredictable service charges in retirement leasehold properties, which disproportionately affect older people, people on lower incomes and those on fixed incomes; notes concerns that many buyers are not provided with clear or realistic information about long-term service charge liabilities before signing leases, and that executors are burdened with large fees outright after the passing of a relative, alongside council tax liability for empty properties which are difficult to sell; further notes that charges are often presented without transparent breakdowns, that future increases are rarely explained meaningfully, and that some developments operate with artificially low or subsidised charges at point of sale which later rise sharply when subsidies are withdrawn; recognises that many leaseholders have little or no control over escalating costs, making properties difficult to sell and creating financial burdens for families during a cost of living crisis; also notes concerns regarding excessive exit fees, restrictions on subletting and resale, and the conduct of some property management companies; acknowledges calls to regulate property management companies and cap annual increases through lease clauses linked to inflation or requiring approval for higher rises; believes there should be a legal requirement for standardised and simplified disclosure before purchase, including current service charges, historic increases, realistic future projections and any subsidy arrangements; and calls on the Government to improve fairness, transparency and consumer protection in the retirement leasehold sector and ensure older people pay only for the property and services they receive.

That this House expresses concern at rising and unpredictable service charges in retirement leasehold properties, which disproportionately affect older people, people on lower incomes and those on fixed incomes; notes concerns that many buyers are not provided with clear or realistic information about long-term service charge liabilities before signing leases,...

That this House recognises the outstanding and lifesaving work by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and fire services across the United Kingdom; notes with concern the proposed closure of Charmouth and Maiden Newton Fire Stations in West Dorset; further notes that the proposals are driven by sustained central government funding pressures; highlights that total revenue funding for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is estimated at £79.5 million in 2026–27, while the centrally controlled Revenue Support Grant is projected to fall from £12.8 million in 2026–27 to £10.3 million by 2028–29, a reduction of almost 20 per cent over three years; further recognises that flexibility on the fire precept does not compensate for reductions in core grant, particularly in rural areas where council tax base growth is lower than national assumptions relied on by funding formulas; also notes rising and unavoidable cost pressures, including increases in employer National Insurance contributions not fully covered by government funding, alongside higher fuel, energy and contract costs; acknowledges that station closures would require neighbouring stations, to cover significantly larger areas without corresponding upgrades or additional funding; also recognises that West Dorset’s population rises by up to 42 per cent during summer months and suffers significant flooding pressure, increasing seasonal risk, and dangerous country roads like the A35; and therefore calls on the Government to review the fire and rescue funding settlement to ensure fair and sustainable central government funding for rural and coastal services, so that public safety is protected.

That this House recognises the outstanding and lifesaving work by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and fire services across the United Kingdom; notes with concern the proposed closure of Charmouth and Maiden Newton Fire Stations in West Dorset; further notes that the proposals are driven by sustained central...

That this House notes the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes but believes these must be the right homes in the right places; further notes that in West Dorset constituency 70% of land lies within a designated National Landscape and that the rural economy depends on a healthy environment, with £320 million annually generated by tourism; regrets that National Landscapes are not statutory consultees in the planning system, nor are water companies, despite their crucial role in managing wastewater and environmental risk; is alarmed that in West Dorset constituency alone there were over 4,200 sewage spills in rivers and 48,000 hours of discharge in the sea last year; recognises that local communities often produce neighbourhood plans that identify the need for affordable social housing, key worker homes and smaller properties for older residents, yet these are frequently overlooked; urges the Government to introduce statutory consultee status for water companies and National Landscapes to help ensure rainwater and sewage management, water security, minimal environmental impact, biodiversity protection and local voice are embedded in the planning process; and believes that a more sustainable planning system is essential to building strong rural communities and safeguarding the environment for future generations.

That this House notes the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes but believes these must be the right homes in the right places; further notes that in West Dorset constituency 70% of land lies within a designated National Landscape and that the rural economy depends on a healthy...

That this House believes that everyone deserves high-quality care when they need it and that unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of our social care system; regrets that hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for care and many remain in hospital beds simply because there is no care available, putting additional pressure on the NHS; supports the introduction of free personal care, so provision is based on need not ability to pay; calls for a workforce plan, a Royal College of Care Workers, a national care agency and a higher Carer’s Minimum Wage to raise professional standards; urges the Government to honour the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 by introducing paid carer’s leave and statutory respite breaks; supports increasing Carer’s Allowance and expanding its eligibility, making caring a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, and introducing a Young Carers Pupil Premium; backs a digital care strategy to enable greater independence; welcomes the cross-party commission on social care funding but urges Ministers to act within a year, not three; recognises that investing in social care helps people avoid entering care in crisis, reduces spiralling personal and public costs, eases pressure on NHS services, and ensures everyone receives high-quality care when they need it; and calls on the Government to end its broken promises and fix a system where families face crippling costs in paying for care and where reform has been delayed for over a decade.

That this House believes that everyone deserves high-quality care when they need it and that unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of our social care system; regrets that hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for care and many remain in hospital beds simply because there is no care available,...

That this House notes with concern that although about 90% of NHS interactions take place in general practice, only 6% of the NHS budget is allocated to it; recognises that general practice remains one of the most financially efficient parts of the NHS, as highlighted in the Darzi Review 2024, yet continues to be chronically underfunded; further notes that the current funding formula fails to take adequate account of rurality and age, placing additional pressure on practices in areas like West Dorset; expresses concern that in Dorset, over 550,000 GP appointments last year involved waits of more than 28 days; highlights the urgent need to invest in digital infrastructure, including extending the Electronic Prescription Service across hospitals and community trusts to reduce waste, delays and duplication, and to lessen the administrative burden on GPs; also notes that over one-third of GPs report that their buildings are not fit for purpose, with over half of GP premises more than 30 years old and one in five predating the foundation of the NHS; believes that urgent investment in the primary care estate is essential to meet demand, deliver preventative care and avoid long-term costs; calls for a guarantee that patients will be able to see a GP within a week, or within 24 hours in urgent cases, to prevent conditions escalating into avoidable hospital admissions; and urges the Government to properly fund general practice and community healthcare as a vital and cost-effective part of a sustainable NHS.

That this House notes with concern that although about 90% of NHS interactions take place in general practice, only 6% of the NHS budget is allocated to it; recognises that general practice remains one of the most financially efficient parts of the NHS, as highlighted in the Darzi Review 2024,...

That this House is deeply concerned by the growing crisis in NHS dentistry, particularly in rural constituencies such as West Dorset, where just 15 dental practices offer any form of NHS care to a population of 94,000, equating to more than 2,300 residents per dentist; notes that only 36% of adults and just 50% of children in West Dorset have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, contributing to thousands of avoidable A&E visits due to dental decay, including 3,000 children nationally every year; recognises that the current NHS dental contract is not fit for purpose, leaving patients forced to pay privately or go without care altogether; welcomes the Government’s commitment to deliver 700,000 additional appointments, but stresses that this must be accompanied by immediate, practical support for Integrated Care Boards, such as NHS Dorset, to address local need now; highlights the case of a pensioner in Sherborne who, unable to access NHS dental care, has had to extract his own teeth; notes the British Dental Association's findings that 96% of practices in England are not accepting new NHS patients and that 1 in 5 people who cannot access care are resorting to DIY dentistry; further notes that the South West has the highest rate of dental-related A&E attendances and the highest dental vacancy rate in the country at 22%; and calls on the Government to deliver both long-term reform and immediate action to restore access to NHS dentistry, especially in rural and underserved areas.

That this House is deeply concerned by the growing crisis in NHS dentistry, particularly in rural constituencies such as West Dorset, where just 15 dental practices offer any form of NHS care to a population of 94,000, equating to more than 2,300 residents per dentist; notes that only 36% of...

That this House expresses grave concern over the ongoing sewage pollution crisis in England, particularly in rural constituencies like West Dorset; notes with alarm that over 450,000 sewage spills were recorded across England in 2024, including almost 4,200 in West Dorset, resulting in over 48,000 hours of sewage discharges into local rivers and beaches; further notes that the River Lim, which exits at Lyme Regis, has been declared ecologically dead due to overwhelming pollution, and that in 2019 only 17% of the 24 monitored water bodies in West Dorset were classed as having good ecological status; recognises the severe repercussions of this crisis on tourism, a key economic driver in West Dorset and many other constituencies, with visitors and residents forced to rely on water quality alerts to safely access local waterways; condemns the lack of accountability among water companies, who collectively paid £1.4 billion in dividends in 2022 and £51 million in executive remuneration over 2020 and 2021, while failing to adequately invest in infrastructure to prevent sewage spills; calls on the Government to implement stronger financial penalties for water companies that fail to meet environmental standards, to ring-fence these fines for reinvestment in affected communities, and to prioritise infrastructure upgrades in neglected rural areas; and urges the Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the water industry and to work with local businesses and communities to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of sewage pollution, securing the future of tourism-dependent economies and protecting the nation’s natural heritage.

That this House expresses grave concern over the ongoing sewage pollution crisis in England, particularly in rural constituencies like West Dorset; notes with alarm that over 450,000 sewage spills were recorded across England in 2024, including almost 4,200 in West Dorset, resulting in over 48,000 hours of sewage discharges into...