Al Pinkerton MP: written questions 2025
967 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bovine Tuberculosis: Surrey HeathDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency given that badger culling has not taken place within the county of Surrey.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: SurreyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of cancer diagnosis targets in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.
Answer: The National Health Service’s operational planning guidance for 2025/26 outlines the priorities for tackling cancer across England, including in Surrey. The aim of this is to reduce wait times for elective care. For 2025/26, systems across the NHS are exp...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Offences: Fixed PenaltiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the DVLA on support for people who wish to appeal a penalty charge notice in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not issue penalty charge notices. These are mostly issued by local authorities in relation to parking offences or congestion charges. Anyone wishing to appeal a penalty charge notice should contact the i...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInheritance Tax: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80631More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of change in Agricultural Property Relief on farms in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTax Avoidance: Surrey HeathTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80630More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of HMRC’s loan charge repayment policies on people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025. The Government recognises the concer...
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxation: Surrey HeathTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80629More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of refund processing times by HMRC on (a) cash flow and (b) trading viability for small construction businesses in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: HMRC recognises the importance of tax repayments in supporting business cash flow and prioritises their processing.In 2024/25, £156.6 billion in repayments were issued, including £17.3 billion in Income Tax. For Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) claims, ...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of excluding British citizens trained abroad from GMC registration-based prioritisation on the future NHS workforce in Surrey Heath c
Answer: British doctors who obtained their medical degree abroad need to meet the requirements of the General Medical Council (GMC), the independent regulator of the medical profession, to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. These doctors are then able to ap...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including British citizens who studied medicine abroad in NHS specialty training prioritisation policies in Surrey Heath constitue
Answer: British doctors who obtained their medical degree abroad need to meet the requirements of the General Medical Council, the independent regulator of the medical profession, to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. These doctors are then able to apply fo...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support Universal Credit claimants to repay overpayments resulting from administrative errors in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: DWP strives to set affordable, and sustainable repayment plans and encourages customers to make contact if they are unable to afford the proposed repayment rate. In most cases, deductions from the UC standard allowance are capped at 15%. When a customer m...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Single ParentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) accuracy of Universal Credit assessments and (b) prevent overpayment errors for working single parents in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to ensuring the accuracy of Universal Credit (UC) assessments and minimising overpayment errors for all claimants. Improving Accuracy of AssessmentsWe have strengthened internal quality assurance processes...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: InternetDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that students with additional needs have access to mandatory online homework platforms in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Schools determine homework volume and format in collaboration with staff, pupils, parents, and governors. Digital tools can support learning and enhance parental engagement by providing visibility into tasks and progress. However, access to devices remain...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAssessments: TechnologyDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the use of educational technology on student preparedness for paper-based examinations in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department is committed to ensuring students are well prepared for all forms of assessment, including paper-based examinations. While constituency-specific data for Surrey Heath is not held, the department continues to assess the impact of educational...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: EqualityDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to (a) deliver inclusive education and (b) promote understanding of diverse backgrounds in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, including those in Surrey Heath, as well as ensuring special and alternative provision schools cater to those with the most complex needs.The Partnerships for Inclus...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Development: Surrey HeathMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in promoting community cohesion in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: MHCLG's Community Cohesion Unit works to support and promote cohesion across England, through working closely with local authorities, voluntary and community sector and faith organisations, and other government departments. The Government's new £2.87m Com...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support council-led initiatives aimed at reducing gambling-related harm in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises that harmful gambling can wreck the lives of individuals, families and communities. Working with the Gambling Commission, we are committed to strengthening protections for those at risk through a range of new safer gambling requi...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of gambling-related harm on vulnerable people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises that harmful gambling can wreck the lives of individuals, families and communities. Working with the Gambling Commission, we are committed to strengthening protections for those at risk through a range of new safer gambling requi...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDiagnosis: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing regulations requiring private healthcare providers to publish standardised pricing for diagnostic services in Surrey H
Answer: The Department has not carried out an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regulations requiring private healthcare providers to publish standardised pricing for diagnostic services.In 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) conclud...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: Surrey HeathDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal receive (a) timely and (b) adequate compensation in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: As of 30 September 2025, approximately £1,229 million has been paid in total redress to over 9,100 claimants across all Horizon redress schemes. This represents a more than fivefold increase since July 2024, with more than 6,300 victims receiving compensa...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: Surrey HeathDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the long-term (a) social and (b) economic impact of the Post Office Horizon scandal on affected individuals in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Department welcomes the findings of Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report which illustrates the significant and wide-ranging impacts on affected postmasters across the UK. As part of our response to that report we have made several cha...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: Surrey HeathDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support victims of the Post Office scandal in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: As of 30 September 2025, approximately £1,229 million has been paid in total redress to over 9,100 claimants across all Horizon redress schemes. This represents a more than fivefold increase since July 2024, with more than 6,300 victims receiving compensa...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Surrey HeathTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80614More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the higher business rates multiplier for large premises on (a) the price of essential goods, (b) shop closures, (c) regional job losses, and (d) foo
Answer: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospital...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that electric vehicles are manufactured (a) sustainably and (b) with appropriate environmental considerations.
Answer: The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan announced DRIVE35 (Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification) which will support the latest research and development, accelerate commercial scale up, and unlock capital investment in zero emission ve...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: InfrastructureDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of increasing electric vehicle usage on (a) environmental and (b) local infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions, improving air quality in local areas in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles. In terms of infrastructure, Surrey County Council, which includes Surrey Heath ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPower FailuresDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of consumer protections on (a) extended and (b) repeated electricity supply interruptions.
Answer: To help protect customers, Ofgem sets Quality-of-Service Guaranteed Standards that must be met by each DNO, these include supply restoration standards. DNOs are directly incentivised by Ofgem to reduce customer interruptions and to invest in and maintain ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPower Failures: CompensationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that compensation arrangements for prolonged power outages are (a) fair, (b) transparent and (c) reflect the impact on affected households i
Answer: All customers are entitled to compensation if distribution companies fail to meet Ofgem’s Quality-of-Service Guaranteed Standards. Ofgem clearly outlines the eligibility criteria for compensation on its website and will take action if companies do not mee...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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