Next week the country will go to the polls to elect its next government. With Brexit high on the agenda there are also concerns around housing, immigration and social care - and here in Dorset, investment in our seaside towns and rural businesses. We put your questions to each of the candidates in the south and west Dorset constituencies. Here, Howard Legg, standing for the Liberal Democrats in South Dorset, gives his response.

1.    What do you want from the Brexit negotiations?
I want what is best for our country. In the short term this means clarifying critical issues so that industry and commerce can feel assured we will get a good deal as uncertainty affects our economy adversely. In the longer term we must stay in the single market by avoiding a hard Brexit deal. 

2.    What is your view on immigration?
The immigration system needs to be operated fairly and efficiently, with strict control of borders, including entry and exit checks, and adequately funded Border Force policing of entry by irregular routes.

We should continue to allow high-skilled immigration to support key sectors of our economy, and ensure work, tourist and family visas are processed quickly and efficiently.

3.    How should the country deal with the rising cost of social care?

We must better integrate health and social care services and limit the amount elderly people have to pay for social care no matter whether in their own home or a nursing home. Liberal Democrats will also invest an additional £17m in social care in Dorset funded from the resources of an income tax increase of one penny.

4.    People are worried about the re-organisation of local health services. What do you think should be done to ensure a robust NHS locally and nationally?

Liberal Democrats want to establish a cross-party health and social care convention, bringing together stakeholders from all political parties, patients groups, the public and 
professionals from within the health and social care system to carry out a comprehensive review of the longer-term sustainability of the health and social care sections. 

We need a statutory, independent budget monitoring agency.

A penny on income tax will see Dorset's NHS receive £56m more annually as well as the social care investment above.

5.    What should be done to ensure fair school funding for all?
Schools need to have their budgets protected in real terms. This is not happening because they are having to pay extra government charges towards Teacher’s Pensions and National Insurance. 

The present government policy will see 88 teachers in South Dorset losing their jobs in the next couple of years with all schools except one (in Swanage) having their budgets cut. The extra funds will be found from a modest increase in corporation tax.

6.    Should the pension triple-lock be guaranteed? How can people ensure a comfortable retirement?

Yes. This was our policy in coalition and should remain.

7.    There is a shortage of affordable housing in Dorset and a great deal of second/holiday homes. What can be done to help young people get on the housing ladder?

Lib Dems want a “rent to buy” scheme for first time buyers where the rent paid will go toward buying the first home with government support. I would also like to see councils allowed to increase council tax on second homes further.

8.    Parts of Dorset are among the most deprived in the country. What should be done to tackle poverty?

Health, housing and education are the three pillars to support a thriving community. The first two need further support and the third needs protecting. When we succeed with these, our economy will improve because we will have a properly trained and healthy workforce which industry and commerce will want to employ.

9.    Agriculture is a main contributor to the Dorset economy. How can you reassure farmers they can thrive post-Brexit?
I expect the government of the day when we leave the EU to ensure farmers are adequately protected. Our concern needs to be with the new tariffs that are negotiated.

10.    Seaside towns like Weymouth have suffered from a lack of investment for many years. What should be done to revitalise these communities?

I can't agree with the tenor of this question for the distant past but do agree there is a problem right now. Weymouth and Portland did well from inward investment when the four defence industries died in the nineties until about five years ago. Now though, the major source of investment decision is with the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Weymouth has been ignored. We need to demand a fair share of available resources.

Tomorrow, Labour candidate for South Dorset Tashi Warr gives her responses.