Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the timeliness of postal services in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government does not collect or hold this information. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has a duty to ensure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. It monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 improve cancer screening methodologies in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Cancer screening methodology is the same across England and adheres to national specifications and standards.
A range of improvements are being made nationally, including the introduction of the new ‘ping and book’ service via the NHS App; the provision of screening appointments at more convenient times and locations; and developments to screening IT systems as part of the Digital Transformation of Screening programme of work. These improvements will also benefit people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 provide mental health support to carers in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise people with mental health issues, including carers in Surrey Heath have been historically underserved. That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies, and giving patients better access to around-the-clock support directly through the NHS App.
Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. To help local authorities fulfil their duties, including to unpaid carers, the 2025 Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to small voluntary sector organisations during local government reorganisation in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government’s consultation on the two unitary proposals in Surrey closed on 5 August 2025. A named consultee contacted to respond was the Surrey VCSE Alliance, and the government encouraged councils in Surrey to promote the consultation and welcomed views from the voluntary and community sector.
The statutory guidance given to councils invited to develop proposals for local government reorganisation in February 2025 set out an expectation that while developing their proposals, councils should engage with relevant bodies in their area, including voluntary and third sector organisations, and that engagement undertaken should inform the development of robust proposals.
Officials from MHCLG have been engaging with councils in Surrey and will continue to do so as we move through transition into implementation phase.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Surrey County Council on the potential implications of local government reorganisation on the voluntary sector in Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government’s consultation on the two unitary proposals in Surrey closed on 5 August 2025. A named consultee contacted to respond was the Surrey VCSE Alliance, and the government encouraged councils in Surrey to promote the consultation and welcomed views from the voluntary and community sector.
The statutory guidance given to councils invited to develop proposals for local government reorganisation in February 2025 set out an expectation that while developing their proposals, councils should engage with relevant bodies in their area, including voluntary and third sector organisations, and that engagement undertaken should inform the development of robust proposals.
Officials from MHCLG have been engaging with councils in Surrey and will continue to do so as we move through transition into implementation phase.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to consult the voluntary sector on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government’s consultation on the two unitary proposals in Surrey closed on 5 August 2025. A named consultee contacted to respond was the Surrey VCSE Alliance, and the government encouraged councils in Surrey to promote the consultation and welcomed views from the voluntary and community sector.
The statutory guidance given to councils invited to develop proposals for local government reorganisation in February 2025 set out an expectation that while developing their proposals, councils should engage with relevant bodies in their area, including voluntary and third sector organisations, and that engagement undertaken should inform the development of robust proposals.
Officials from MHCLG have been engaging with councils in Surrey and will continue to do so as we move through transition into implementation phase.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of maintaining the five year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for visa holders in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement.
This will include an expansion of the Points-Based System that will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. However, through the expansion of the Points-Based System, individuals will also have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on contributions to the UK economy and society.
I welcomed the opportunity to listen to the views of Members in the recent 8th September Westminster Hall Debate on settlement.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to help people for employment in the defence supply chain sector in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) supports employment in the defence supply chain, including in Surrey Heath, by prioritising UK businesses through the Defence Industrial Strategy, boosting innovation, exports, and job creation. Initiatives such as Defence Growth Deals and a robust skills package create job opportunities across the UK. MOD expenditure with UK Industry in the South-East is the highest within the United Kingdom at £7.85 billion.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to provide funding for the defence sector in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) supports employment in the defence supply chain, including in Surrey Heath, by prioritising UK businesses through the Defence Industrial Strategy, boosting innovation, exports, and job creation. Initiatives such as Defence Growth Deals and a robust skills package create job opportunities across the UK. MOD expenditure with UK Industry in the South-East is the highest within the United Kingdom at £7.85 billion.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children receive adequate financial support during the school holidays in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
I refer the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to the answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 73205.