Will Forster MP: written questions 2025
198 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Information Commissioner's OfficeDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will review the role of the Information Commissioner's Office.
Answer: We have considered the role of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) during the design of the Data Use & Access Bill. This Bill modernises the ICO’s governance structure, introduces a new framework with a principal objective and duties to provid...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to (a) manage and (b) accelerate the connection of the renewable energy projects in the transmission queue.
Answer: We are working closely with Ofgem and the network companies to develop and deliver fundamental reform of the grid connections process. National Energy System Operator (NESO’s) proposals for connections reform were approved by Ofgem on 15 April. These refo...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Safety Valve agreement on the provision of special educational needs support in Surrey.
Answer: The department is continuing to work with Surrey to deliver their safety valve plan, including providing ongoing support from both expert advisers. We regularly review the implementation of all safety valve agreements through our monitoring process, which...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Multiple SclerosisDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support people living with multiple sclerosis in Woking constituency; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reforms to (a) disability benefit
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. Estimates of the impact of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reforms are ma...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple Sclerosis: WokingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Woking constituency.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services for their local population, including for multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs, including the Surrey Heartlands ICB, which covers the Woking constituency, to assess t...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: National Insurance CreditsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57143More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people on Universal Credit receive National Insurance Contribution credits.
Answer: Class 3 National Insurance (NI) Credits are awarded to those in receipt of Universal Credit (UC). Where UC recipients are also in work or are entitled to NI credits on other grounds, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will undertake any relevant reconcilia...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal Injuries Compensation Scheme: Social Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether receipt of compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme impacts entitlement to benefits.
Answer: Means tested benefits do not provide a specific disregard for a Criminal Injuries Compensation payment. However, it is very likely, due to the nature of these payments, that they will be regarded as a payment for personal injury and disregarded for 12 mon...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment and Support Allowance: UpratingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people on legacy Employment and Support Allowance receive the same inflation increase as people on other benefits.
Answer: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a single benefit with two strands, contribution-based ESA, ESA C (which was rebadged New Style ESA (NS ESA)), and income-related ESA (ESA IR). Legacy ESA is made up of a contributory (ESA C) and income-related str...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordReconstruction: UkraineDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support Ukraine’s (a) reconstruction and (b) economic recovery.
Answer: Through the 100-Year Partnership Agreement, the UK is committed to supporting Ukraine’s long-term stability and growth, driving its recovery as a modernised and resilient economy. We work closely with the Government of Ukraine to understand their immediat...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of using digital twin technology in major infrastructure projects.
Answer: The National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP) aims to develop the UK’s capability in digital twinning technologies, and to enable the digital interconnection of infrastructure and other sources of data. This will enable more efficient design, construction, a...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: Criminal ProceedingsMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make it her policy for courts to prioritise cases involving grooming.
Answer: The listing of cases is a judicial function, and as such, prioritisation and scheduling decisions are the responsibility of judges. In practice, the judiciary generally lists cases to give priority to those with vulnerable parties and witnesses.The Govern...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationals Abroad: CybercrimeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect British citizens abroad from (a) cybercrime and (b) digital asset theft.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides country specific travel advice and consular assistance to British nationals abroad. The FCDO also works in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other agencies to ra...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a temporary Blue Badge scheme.
Answer: The Blue Badge scheme is primarily about helping people with a long-term disability that affects their capacity to access the goods and services they need to use. Anyone may be entitled to a badge if they meet the eligibility criteria.The Department for T...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoverty: WokingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle childhood poverty in Canalside ward in Woking constituency.
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish its strategy as soon as possible. We are exploring all available levers to drive forward ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoverty: WokingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help support the 2,198 children under the age of 16 living in relative poverty in Woking constituency.
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish its strategy as soon as possible. We are exploring all available levers to drive forward ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: WokingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are (a) eligible for pension credit and (b) have yet to apply for it in Woking constituency.
Answer: Published DWP Pension Credit Take-up statistics estimate that up to 760,000 households who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not claim the benefit. These statistics are only available at Great Britain level and cannot be broken down to smaller g...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: WokingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied for Pension Credit in Woking constituency since 29 July 2024.
Answer: Statistics on Pension Credit application volumes, for Great Britain only, were published on 29th May 2025. This includes numbers of applications that were received, awarded and not awarded, and outstanding, from week commencing 3rd April 2023 up to week c...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWaterloo StationDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has considered improving pedestrian (a) access and (b) egress at Waterloo Station.
Answer: There are a series of improvement works underway at Waterloo station to improve pedestrian access and egress, including the recent refurbishment of the lift to Waterloo Road and with further escalator works to be completed by summer 2026. Network Rail is ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: WokingDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking following the nationalisation of South Western Railway to improve (a) train services and (b) access to train stations in Woking.
Answer: South Western Railway (SWR) services transferred into public ownership on 25 May. This was a watershed moment in our work to return the railways to the service of passengers. The new Managing Director of SWR will develop a detailed plan to improve perform...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRegeneration: WokingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether levels of deprivation in (a) Goldsworth Park, (b) Canalside ward and (c) other areas are taken into account when deciding levels of funding allocated to local authoritie
Answer: In the 2025-26 Settlement, the new, one-off, Recovery Grant, worth £600 million, was targeted towards areas with greater need and demand for services, with deprivation used as a proxy for this, and less ability to raise income locally. The metrics used ar...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: WokingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered extending the remit of Woking Borough Council’s Commissioners to assist the new shadow unitary authority in Woking following local government reorganis
Answer: Commissioners were appointed to Woking Borough Council in 2023 to facilitate recovery and improvement, following historic commercial mismanagement and major governance failures, with the Council having accumulated an extraordinary level of debt, far excee...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: WokingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support the construction of new homes in Woking constituency that have planning permission but construction has not yet commenced.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be found on gov.uk here) and the technical consultation on implementing measure to improve Build Out transparency (which can be found on gov.uk here) published ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: WokingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the (a) rejected and (b) withdrawn applications to the Building Safety Regulator under the Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 wer
Answer: Building Safety Regulator officials have confirmed that there have been no building control applications for approval (regardless of application status or outcome) in any of the postcodes that make up the Woking constituency (GU18-24 and KT14-18).
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: SurreyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for new specialist mental health crisis centres in Surrey.
Answer: Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Surrey can access support 24/7 through the Mental Health Crisis Helpline, operated by the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The service is staffed by trained professionals who provide i...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPalestinians: Recognition of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to recognise the State of Palestine following the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implem
Answer: The UK commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering. On the 25 May at the Madrid conference, I met with partners to discuss how to deliver a two-state solution with a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas. We are committed to recognising a Palest...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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