Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Surrey County Council in delivering sustainable growth.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our number one mission is economic growth, and every area across the country has a vital contribution to make to this mission. In Surrey we are supporting this through inviting councils, including Surrey County Council, to come together and consider proposals for reorganisation and devolution which aim to improve service delivery, governance, and long-term economic resilience to support sustainable growth.

Surrey will also benefit from the cross-cutting policies and solutions being delivered by the Industrial Strategy, to help ensure a pro-business environment across the UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of support for people with Central Neurocytoma in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as central neurocytoma. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These include helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the Framework and, in February, published the annual England Rare Diseases Action Plan.

Central neurocytoma is an example of a rare benign brain tumour. These types of brain tumours are managed through surgical intervention in most instances. Services for both adults and paediatric patients are commissioned and delivered through two national clinically developed service specifications. These are the NHS England Neurosurgery (Adults) specification, published in 2019, and the NHS England Paediatric Neurosurgery Services specification, published in 2013.

For patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency aged over one year old, the pathway of care for treatment is through the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust service. Patients aged under one year old will be seen and treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for dementia care services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under the 10 Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for frailty and dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

The standard operating procedures of the Surrey Heath Older Adults Mental Health Services, which includes memory clinics, have been reviewed and found to meet the requirements of facilitating appropriate referral routes and service inclusion criteria. Improvement work is also in progress to enhance dementia training and access to specialist support for staff on the Surrey and Borders Partnership National Health Service Foundation Trust’s older adult mental health ward dealing with dementia at the Meadows Unit.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle undisclosed advertising on social media platforms.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the independent regulator for advertising in the UK and enforces the Advertising Codes. The Codes require that paid advertising content must be recognisable as such. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 also prohibits unfair commercial practices involving misleading actions or misleading omissions within advertisements. Influencers are required to disclose when they are advertising under both the CAP code and consumer law.

The Influencer Marketing Code of Conduct, co-owned by the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Influencer Marketing Trade Body (IMBT), was launched in 2021 to improve standards in this area of advertising. The Code contains requirements for brands working with influencers, the agencies who represent them, and the influencers themselves, and includes a dedicated section on disclosure. An Influencer Marketing Working Group, established as part of the Government’s Online Advertising Taskforce, has helped provide new standards to be incorporated into the fourth iteration of the Code. This was launched in November 2024, and the group is working to encourage further take-up.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local councils in Surrey operate on a financially sustainable basis.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department works closely with local authorities and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. Any council that has concerns about its ability to set or maintain a balanced budget should approach the Department in the first instance, where we will treat all discussions in confidence and with respect.

The Government accepts that Woking Borough Council holds significant unsupported debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety. We are committed to providing an initial tranche of financial support for debt repayment for Woking in 2026-27, ahead of the implementation of re-organisation in Surrey. Government-appointed Commissioners are in place in both Woking and Spelthorne, and have been engaged in the development of proposals for unitarisation.

The 2025 Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29.

We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities of their provisional multi-year allocations.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out to the House on 17 June, two proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey were received on 9 May. In accordance with the guidance provided to two-tier areas, it is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. Councils are responsible for working through the implications relating to local government reorganisation, including costs and merits.

Following the Government’s consultation which closed on 5 August, the proposals for Surrey will be considered carefully against the published criteria, alongside the responses received and all other relevant information. It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process for unitarisation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review (a) accountability and (b) oversight arrangements for Section 151 officers as part of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no plans to review accountability and oversight arrangements for S151 officers as part of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to publish a report on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 17 June, MHCLG launched a consultation on two proposals for unitary local government made by Surrey councils. That consultation closed on 5 August. A decision will now be made on which proposal, if any, to implement by assessing the proposals against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance accompanying the invitation, and having regard to all representations received to the consultation, and to all other relevant information available. In line with usual practice, a summary of the consultation responses will be published in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support awareness campaigns on violence against women and girls in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is treating is treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency. We have set out our unprecedented ambition to halve the prevalence of VAWG within a decade, using every lever available to us.

We are going further than before to deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halve VAWG, underpinned by a new VAWG Strategy to be published as soon as possible. We are actively considering the contribution that communications campaigns can play and will work closely with stakeholders on this.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support pubs in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the vital role pubs play, including those in Surrey Heath in supporting local economies and fostering community cohesion, as well as the pressures they face.

In April we established the Licensing Taskforce, bringing together representatives from the hospitality sector to help shape reforms. The Government’s response was published on 31 July, setting out a new National Licensing Policy Framework to simplify outdated rules and protect long-standing venues from noise complaints. This forms part of the recently announced Small Business Strategy, which aims to tackle late payments, boost access to finance, and remove red tape to enable small businesses, including pubs, grow and thrive.

Additionally, we’re creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street and supports investment, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value. We’ve also launched a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with DBT and Hospitality Sector Council priorities such as Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of special free schools in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Work to deliver special free schools is ongoing.

Funding for free school projects is provided at different stages of project development, in line with key delivery milestones. The department provides capital funding for the acquisition of sites, land and construction. For centrally delivered free school projects, a contractor is appointed from the department’s framework and construction costs are paid directly by the department.

The department also supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through annual high needs capital funding, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Surrey has been allocated £16.1 million.

The department continues to engage closely with Surrey County Council about the provision of SEND places in Surrey Heath and Surrey as a whole.

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the challenges in delivering high quality SEND support for children in Surrey.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out her timetable for the delivery of new special free schools in Surrey.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Work to deliver special free schools is ongoing.

Funding for free school projects is provided at different stages of project development, in line with key delivery milestones. The department provides capital funding for the acquisition of sites, land and construction. For centrally delivered free school projects, a contractor is appointed from the department’s framework and construction costs are paid directly by the department.

The department also supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through annual high needs capital funding, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Surrey has been allocated £16.1 million.

The department continues to engage closely with Surrey County Council about the provision of SEND places in Surrey Heath and Surrey as a whole.

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the challenges in delivering high quality SEND support for children in Surrey.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating funding to help progress the development of Frimley Oak Academy in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Work to deliver special free schools is ongoing.

Funding for free school projects is provided at different stages of project development, in line with key delivery milestones. The department provides capital funding for the acquisition of sites, land and construction. For centrally delivered free school projects, a contractor is appointed from the department’s framework and construction costs are paid directly by the department.

The department also supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through annual high needs capital funding, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Surrey has been allocated £16.1 million.

The department continues to engage closely with Surrey County Council about the provision of SEND places in Surrey Heath and Surrey as a whole.

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the challenges in delivering high quality SEND support for children in Surrey.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on the provision of SEND school places in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Work to deliver special free schools is ongoing.

Funding for free school projects is provided at different stages of project development, in line with key delivery milestones. The department provides capital funding for the acquisition of sites, land and construction. For centrally delivered free school projects, a contractor is appointed from the department’s framework and construction costs are paid directly by the department.

The department also supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through annual high needs capital funding, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Surrey has been allocated £16.1 million.

The department continues to engage closely with Surrey County Council about the provision of SEND places in Surrey Heath and Surrey as a whole.

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the challenges in delivering high quality SEND support for children in Surrey.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the future SEND school provision in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Work to deliver special free schools is ongoing.

Funding for free school projects is provided at different stages of project development, in line with key delivery milestones. The department provides capital funding for the acquisition of sites, land and construction. For centrally delivered free school projects, a contractor is appointed from the department’s framework and construction costs are paid directly by the department.

The department also supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through annual high needs capital funding, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Surrey has been allocated £16.1 million.

The department continues to engage closely with Surrey County Council about the provision of SEND places in Surrey Heath and Surrey as a whole.

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to discuss the challenges in delivering high quality SEND support for children in Surrey.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen flood resilience in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s flood risk management teams continue to work with partners, providing advice, support and guidance to flood groups and communities in the key flood risk areas in Surrey Heath. This includes Chobham, Pirbright and Normandy. Environment Agency representatives attend biannual flood forum meetings with those communities, providing ongoing support and guidance on flood resilience within the borough.

Residents in communities at risk of flooding from rivers can also sign up to the Environment Agency's free Get Flood Warnings service, which sends alerts by phone, text, or email.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support public awareness campaigns aimed at improving cycling safety for women in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of (a) direct and (b) safe cycling routes in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the safety of women cyclists in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes.

In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26.

Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them.

Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the capacity of water companies to meet demand arising from new housing developments in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are responsible for delivering housing allocations included within their Local Plans, including relevant infrastructure to support growth.

Surrey Heath District Council produced a Water Cycle Study (WCS) in March 2025, to provide an evidence base to show the environmental constraints from their proposed housing allocations. This study, reviewed by the Environment Agency, highlighted additional capacity is likely required at two sites across Surrey Heath, Lightwater STW and Camberley STW, to support additional housing without causing deterioration to water quality.

This matter has been raised by the Environment Agency as a 'point of soundness' for further consideration by the LPA, within their emerging Surrey Heath Local Plan, and is due to be heard at the Surrey Heath Local Plan examination which begins on 16 September.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that unitary authorities have the (a) powers and (b) resources to develop effective strategic flooding plans.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires lead local flood authorities – which include unitary authorities – to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area.

Local authorities receive revenue funding to deliver local services, including local flood risk management, through the Local Government Finance Settlement. For 2025-26 this makes available over £69 billion, a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on flood resilience strategies in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s flood risk management teams maintain a close working relationship with Surrey County Council, including sitting on the Surrey Flood Risk Partnership Board where they help to shape local flood risk strategies and work with other risk management authorities, including Surrey Heath, to agree priorities that help make local communities more resilient to flooding.

The Environment Agency’s local Flood Resilience Team also works with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of the Surrey Local Resilience Forum that looks at flood resilience across the wider county. Further information is available on their website - Welcome to Surrey Prepared - Surrey County Council.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to expand access to cadet groups for young people in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

This Government fully recognises the benefits of cadets, not just for young people who participate, but for the whole of society. Participation in the Cadet Forces has significant positive impacts on young people, increasing their performance at school, and improving their employment and career prospects. Independent research has shown the cost of cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of cadets change each year so that they are in education, training or employment.

The recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the UK of 30% by 2030. Expanding the Cadet Forces, which provide skills and qualifications to young people from diverse backgrounds, and support economic growth, will benefit all areas of the UK, and work is already underway to establish where the 30% increase will be realised.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (b) ATC Pirbright in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Department is committed to supporting both the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and ATC Pirbright

At ATC Pirbright, £7 million is being invested immediately to upgrade accommodation, with a further £400 million planned over the next seven years to enhance facilities. This will enable Pirbright to take on over 50% of the Army’s Regular Basic Training, following the closure of the Army Training Regiment Winchester next year.

At RMAS, which trains all Army Officers and hosts several key Defence organisations, significant investment has also been made for its sporting facilities, including £3 million for two new 3G pitches that are available for any Army unit to use.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making water companies statutory consultees for new sizeable housing developments in Surrey.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60676 on 23 June 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support access to healthcare services during winter in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is already preparing for winter this year with the development and better testing of winter plans. This includes the surge capacity and escalation plans in place across urgent and emergency care services.

Further details of the actions being taken to support patient access to services this winter are set out in the Urgent and Emergency Care plan for 2025/26, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-and-emergency-care-plan-2025-26/

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of provisions to protect vulnerable individuals from online scams in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

This Government is working extremely closely with industry, regulators, law enforcement and consumer groups to close the vulnerabilities that criminals exploit and stop scams reaching people.

This includes regulation through the Online Safety Act, which entered into law in April, and which requires in-scope companies to tackle fraud originating on their platforms. Ofcom, acting as the independent regulator, has the power to levy significant fines on companies who they deem are not doing enough in doing so.

Beyond regulation, the Government continues to support the national Stop! Think Fraud campaign to help people spot and take action to avoid fraud. The campaign and supporting website, make it easier for the public to safeguard themselves, their family and friends through a range of protective behaviours.

The Government is also working with the City of London Police in coordinating the Fraud Protect Network. The network is made up of local, regional and national law enforcement officers and is designed to reduce the threat of fraud and revictimization by providing consistent protect messaging and safeguarding advice to the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve protection for vulnerable people from online scams in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

This Government is working extremely closely with industry, regulators, law enforcement and consumer groups to close the vulnerabilities that criminals exploit and stop scams reaching people.

This includes regulation through the Online Safety Act, which entered into law in April, and which requires in-scope companies to tackle fraud originating on their platforms. Ofcom, acting as the independent regulator, has the power to levy significant fines on companies who they deem are not doing enough in doing so.

Beyond regulation, the Government continues to support the national Stop! Think Fraud campaign to help people spot and take action to avoid fraud. The campaign and supporting website, make it easier for the public to safeguard themselves, their family and friends through a range of protective behaviours.

The Government is also working with the City of London Police in coordinating the Fraud Protect Network. The network is made up of local, regional and national law enforcement officers and is designed to reduce the threat of fraud and revictimization by providing consistent protect messaging and safeguarding advice to the public.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve resilience at UK overseas army bases in (a) Cyprus and (b) Gibraltar.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We are constantly reviewing and assessing resilience levels in all our overseas locations and working to deliver improvements to areas of greatest threat. Service personnel based in the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus and in Gibraltar benefit from the same high levels of routine training and support provided across the Army, as well as the works designed to improve Defence infrastructure in these locations and the overall experience of our personnel based overseas.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce sickness absence rates in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to supporting people to remain in or return to work, particularly those experiencing health-related barriers. In Surrey, this commitment is being delivered through several targeted initiatives as part of the Government’s wider Pathways to Work reforms, which aim to improve employment support for people with health conditions and disabilities.

DWP's current offer to employers includes a digital information service, www.support-with-employee-health-and-disability.dwp.gov.uk/ which provides tailored guidance to businesses to support employees to remain in work. This includes guidance on health disclosures and having conversations about health, plus guidance on legal obligations, including statutory sick pay and making reasonable adjustments.

Another intervention is the WorkWell pilot, which supports people both in and out of work. It provides low intensity holistic support for health and disability related barriers to employment, and a single joined up gateway to existing local work and health service provision. WorkWell is being delivered in 15 areas across England, including Surrey Heartlands. Participants get a holistic assessment, and a tailored support plan that can include employer liaison; advice on workplace adjustments; health and wellbeing support; confidential support from specialist employment and skills advisors to explore new career opportunities in Surrey; and access to local mental health or physical activity support services within seven days. Participants in Surrey can be referred through primary care hubs, Jobcentre Plus, community-based services, or they can self-refer.

Employer led occupational health services provide expert advice on fitness for work, return-to-work plans, and workplace adaptations, helping individuals remain in work and return to work after sickness absence. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care’s OH reform programme has focused on increasing access to and uptake of occupational health services.

Together, these measures form part of a broader strategy to reduce sickness absence, improve productivity, and support economic growth in Surrey and across the country.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support individuals with endometriosis in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships and their participation in education and the workforce. In the Surrey Heath constituency, Frimley Park Hospital is a British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy-accredited endometriosis centre, with the capacity to manage severe cases of endometriosis. The centre is working towards becoming cross-site, supporting women at Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital, offering more specialist staff to support the service.

In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its guideline on endometriosis which makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. The guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73)www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the third-party selling of vehicle registration marks.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing support to people impacted by number plate cloning in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of granting additional enforcement powers to authorities to tackle number plate cloning.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will publish statistics on the incidence of number cloning in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East region.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle number plate cloning in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support people with endometriosis in the workplace in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Backed by £240 million investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched last November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including women with endometriosis, with their employment journey. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems.

Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care and WorkWell.

It is also recognised that employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. To build on this, the DWP and DHSC Joint Work & Health Directorate (JWHD) is facilitating “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to bring forward recommendations in Autumn 2025.

In our March Green Paper, we set out our Pathways to Work Guarantee, backed by £1 billion a year of new additional funding by 2030. We will build towards a guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for all disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits.

The 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, stated our intention to break down barriers to opportunity by delivering the holistic support that people need to access and thrive in employment by ensuring a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. The Plan sets out the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of health and care needs, including for disabled people. Furthermore, it outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work.

Children of Ukraine

Found: Negatived on division_5 Steve Darling John Milne Liz Jarvis Manuela Perteghella Sarah Olney Dr Al Pinkerton

Found: COMMITTEE STAGE Thursday 11 September 2025 _NC5 Steve Darling John Milne Liz Jarvis Sarah Olney Dr Al Pinkerton

Submit Evidence (by 7 Nov 2025)

2026 marks 25 years since the establishment of the PSNI following the recommendations of the Patten review on policing. This inquiry will examine how far the objectives and aspirations of the Patten review have been realised, and explore the key challenges facing policing and security in Northern Ireland today—particularly in areas that remain under UK Government co-ordination and funding. Read our call for evidence [here] for more detail about the inquiry and how to contribute your views.