Al Pinkerton MP: written questions 2025
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Written questions
Driving Tests: South EastDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many additional driving examiners have been recruited to test centres in the South East since May 2025.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: South EastDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has made on reducing driving test waiting times in the South East since April 2025.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improv...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of driving test backlogs on (a) rural and (b) semi-rural communities.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, particularly those living in rural and semi-rural communities.The ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: South EastDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Education and (b) Work and Pensions on the potential impact of driving test backlogs on young people’s access to (i) training and (ii) emp
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improv...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of additional driving lessons caused by driving test booking backlogs in Surrey Heath constituency on families.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of driving test waiting times on the (a) mental health and (b) wellbeing of learner drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of driving test availability on people entering the workforce in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: South EastDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has made on implementing its plan to reduce driving test waiting times in the South East.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce driving test waiting times for young drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSecurity Action for EuropeMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of securing UK access to the EU's Security Action for Europe Fund.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2025 to Question 90640. The UK is committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU. We are working to implement the package agreed at the UK-EU Summit and build on our landmark Secu...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordProfessions: QualificationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress he has made on establishing mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and the EU.
Answer: HMG remains committed to making it easier for UK and EU professionals to have their qualifications recognised.The Trade and Cooperation Agreement contains provisions which allow the UK and EU to agree recognition of professional qualifications arrangement...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90572More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings his Department has had with the European Union on the proposed UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme since the announcement of the UK-EU Reset Deal.
Answer: We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU at the UK-EU Summit. The exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiations. Since the Summit we have held a number of rounds of negotiations wi...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUnemployment: Surrey HeathDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of unemployment for (a) younger and (b) older people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The information requested is published and available at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp The estimated unemployment levels can be found by selecting “Query data” on the N...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Assistance AnimalsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the adequacy of public transport accessibility for assistance dog users in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of accessible public transport to enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEquipment: TheftHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce and (b) prevent equipment theft in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: We will be implementing the Equipment Theft Act, making it harder for criminals to sell on stolen vehicles and equipment and assisting the police with identifying the owner.The Act’s secondary legislation will require forensic marking to be applied to new...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus and Influenza: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the eligibility criteria for individuals to be considered for (a) Covid and (b) Flu vaccinations in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and flu through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Eligibility for vaccination programmes informed by JCVI advice is...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to protect vulnerable individuals from Covid during winter months in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains th...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBeer and Public Houses: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89898More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of employers' National Insurance contribution rates on the financial viability of (a) pubs and (b) breweries in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government closely monitors the health of different sectors across the UK economy and regularly engages with the hospitality sector. The Government protected the smallest hospitality businesses from the recent changes to employer National Insurance th...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Charges: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of financial support available to customers experiencing water bill debt in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Charges: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that water companies maintain transparent billing practices for customers in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Charges: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the affordability of household water bills in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Charges: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce water bills for (a) individuals and (b) families in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSentencing: VeteransMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve data collection on (a) the number of veterans serving custodial sentences and (b) potential disparities in sentencing outcomes.
Answer: Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory d...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal Proceedings: VeteransMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of military service on sentencing decisions in criminal cases.
Answer: Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory d...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSentencing: VeteransMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the consistency of sentencing outcomes for (a) veterans and (b) non-veterans convicted of similar offences.
Answer: Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory d...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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