Al Pinkerton MP: written questions 2026
574 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Students: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of student loan interest rates on graduates’ financial outcomes.
Answer: This government recognises the concerns caused by high student loan account balances and interest rates, resulting from loan plans designed by previous governments. That is why we are capping the maximum interest rates on Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans a...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons her Department applies different interest rates to different student loan repayment plans.
Answer: Decisions on Plan 2 and Plan 5 conditions were made by the previous government. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. Over time, this has led to refo...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the equity of the different student loan interest rate structures in (a) Plan 2 and (b) Plan 5.
Answer: Decisions on Plan 2 and Plan 5 conditions were made by the previous government. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. Over time, this has led to refo...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSpinal Muscular Atrophy: BabiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the available (a) clinical and (b) cost-effectiveness evidence on including spinal muscular atrophy in the newborn screening programme.
Answer: The Government recognises the challenges faced by those living with rare diseases and their families and is committed to improving outcomes. This is why the National Health Service is planning a large-scale in-service evaluation (ISE) of screening for spi...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rail reform on the availability of discounted rail travel schemes for (a) members of the armed forces and (b) veterans.
Answer: There are no plans to change or remove availability of discounted rail travel for members of the armed forces or veterans. The Railways Bill gives Great British Railways the flexibility to update and expand the concessionary offers in line with passenger ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support young people into (a) employment, (b) education and (c) training in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in educatio...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUnemployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2025 on levels of youth unemployment in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in educatio...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Assets: SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what fiscal steps he is taking to support the community ownership of assets in Surrey.
Answer: This Government is empowering communities to protect and take ownership of valued local assets through the new Community Right to Buy. This will give communities the first opportunity to purchase a registered asset of community value when it is put up for...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Surrey HeathDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in levels of business confidence in the hospitality sector in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: While the Department does not produce constituency-level assessments of business confidence, government closely monitors business confidence across the hospitality sector.We have introduced targeted support measures to strengthen the sector’s resilience. ...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordJob Creation: Surrey HeathDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the creation of well-paid jobs in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade is supporting the creation of jobs and opportunities across the UK, including in the Surrey Heath constituency. We are doing this by supporting small and medium sized businesses to export, including developing a new B...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on reducing air pollution in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Under the Environment Act 1995, local authorities have a duty to review and assess local air quality and to take action to reduce pollution where air quality objectives are exceeded. Where these objectives are being met, as is the case in Surrey Heath, De...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the funding formula used for (a) road maintenance and (b) pothole repairs.
Answer: The Government plans to review the funding formula that it uses to distribute capital funding to local highways authorities to see whether it can be adjusted to consider, for example, the conditions that affect the wear and tear of local roads.However, th...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Government funding for repairing potholes in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is investing a record £7.3 billion in local highways maintenance over the next four years, which is in addition to a £1.6 billion investment in 2025/26, a £500 million increase on the previous year. The responsible local highway authority f...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made to help reduce waiting times for driving tests in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working hard to reduce waiting times for car practical tests whilst upholding road safety standards. DVSA wants all learners to be able to access a driving test when they are ready to pass, to enable peopl...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve accessibility at train stations in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the significant social and economic benefits that enhanced accessibility brings to communities. We are investing nearly £280 million to improve accessibility at stat...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPan-Euro-Mediterranean ConventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 121982 on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, what the expected timeframe is for publishing the evidence submitted to the consultation on UK accession
Answer: The government’s response to the call for evidence on UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) was published on 26th March 2026.
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFrimley Park HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123382More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the expected timeline is for the announcement by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust on the new hospital at Frimley Park Hospital.
Answer: Pursuant to the answer given to the Hon. Member on 23 March 2026 to Question 121160, any announcement on a provisional preferred site for the new hospital at Frimley Park Hospital will be down to the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust to announce.This wi...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPan-Euro-Mediterranean ConventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of negotiating UK access into the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.
Answer: In the UK’s Trade Strategy, the government recognised the potential merits and impacts of UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) and committed to engaging business further. The government ran a five-week call for evidence from Novembe...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPan-Euro-Mediterranean ConventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic merits for (a) the Treasury and (b) UK businesses of the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.
Answer: In the UK’s Trade Strategy, the government recognised the potential merits and impacts of UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) and committed to engaging business further. The government ran a five-week call for evidence from Novembe...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFrimley Park HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of funding allocated through the New Hospital Programme for the replacement of Frimley Park Hospital will be dedicated to infrastructure upgrades.
Answer: The Frimley Park Hospital scheme is currently at the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) business case stage. The final cost of the Frimley Park Hospital main scheme will be subject to the approval of the Full Business Case, following the process set out in HM T...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFrimley Park HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department will announce the provisional preferred site for a new hospital intended to replace Frimley Park Hospital.
Answer: Any announcement on a provisional preferred site for the new hospital at Frimley Park Hospital will be down to the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust to announce. This will be subject to the trust having secured all the relevant business case approvals.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Military Academy: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) recruitment and (b) retention at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Answer: The Army has consistently achieved the Direct Entry target for Regular Officer recruitment, demonstrating sustained effectiveness in meeting, and often exceeding, recruiting requirements. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst maintains strong retention, wi...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: SurreyMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help increase the number of defence jobs in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is actively supporting the growth of defence jobs in both Surrey and Surrey Heath through substantial investment in the South East region. Currently, the MOD’s expenditure in this area amounts to £7.85 billion, which helps su...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Children and Young PeopleDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to engage with children and young people on social media use in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: On 2 March, the government launched a landmark consultation on how to give young people the childhood they deserve in an online world. Alongside the formal consultation, we have launched a child and parent-friendly version, ensuring these important voices...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Surrey HeathDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure reliable broadband services in hard to reach areas of Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.As part of Project Gigabit, Openreach is delivering a contract to extend coverage to hard-to-reach areas...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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