Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Audio recordings at health assessments, updated on 29 June 2026, whether a procedure exists for correcting, amending or annotating a health assessment report where an audio recording shows that it does not accurately reflect what occurred, separate from any mandatory reconsideration or appeal of the benefit decision.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Telephone and face-to-face health assessments are audio recorded as standard, unless the claimant chooses to opt out. The recording provides an accurate record of the assessment.
The assessment report completed by the assessment supplier’s health professional provides advice to the department and is considered alongside any supporting evidence when determining a claimant’s entitlement to benefit by DWP.
Suppliers have established processes for investigating complaints, including the facility to listen to audio recordings if available.
If concerns are identified regarding the quality or accuracy of an assessment report, the assessment supplier will investigate the matter and, where deficiencies are found, apologise and advise DWP if the issue may have had an impact on the advice provided or on the entitlement decision.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve information sharing and family liaison support for bereaved families awaiting international letters of request.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
When a British national dies overseas, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) can provide practical and compassionate consular support to bereaved families. We tailor that support to the circumstances of the case and the needs of the family. Our role is to help families understand local procedures, provide information and guidance, liaise with relevant authorities where appropriate, and signpost to further sources of support. The processing of International Letters of Request is a matter for the Home Office.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the current average waiting time is between a data protection complaint being lodged with the Information Commissioner's Office and a case officer being assigned; and what steps are being taken to address complaints that have significantly exceeded this average.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner's Office transitioned to become the Information Commission on 30 September 2026. While DCMS is its sponsor department, the Information Commission remains independent and accountable to Parliament.
The Information Commission assesses each complaint against its Data Protection Complaints Framework. The Information Commission advises that complaints are typically triaged within two and a half months of submission, and those not requiring further investigation are on average resolved within 5 days from being triaged/allocated. Those requiring further investigation are currently assigned to a case officer approximately 10 months after submission. The Information Commission is prioritising the most serious cases and exploring process and technology improvements to reduce waiting times.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the testimony evidence submitted to her Department on 15 July 2025 by Surrey County Council on SEND with the Department’s response entitled Local SEND Reform Feedback for Surrey, in which Q9 states "Surrey demonstrates strong engagement with parents, young people, schools and health partners".
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The Local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Reform Plan feedback provided to the Surrey Local Area Partnership was based only on the department’s assessment of Surrey’s Local SEND Reform Plan and is not a reflection of Surrey’s SEND performance more broadly. In the plan, Surrey Local Area Partnership demonstrated a strong commitment to co-production with meaningful engagement on the development of the plan across the partnership, but recognised that further strengthening of wider engagement is required.
Going forward, officials from the department and NHS England, alongside expert advisers, will regularly support and challenge Surrey as it implements the plan and strengthens the quality of existing support for children and young people with SEND. The department will continue to engage Parent Carer Forums and local stakeholders to assess the quality of partnership working and, where concerns are raised, will work with the local area to support the improvement and effective delivery of its plan.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that survivors and domestic abuse specialist services are involved in shaping the proximity-monitoring pilot scheme.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government has committed to piloting proximity monitoring technology as part of its wider work to strengthen protections for victims of violence against women and girls. Officials are engaging with key partners across the victims sector, including victims’ commissioners and domestic abuse organisations, to ensure that the pilot is informed by the experiences and needs of victim survivors.
We have established ongoing engagement with victims’ organisations to provide advice and challenge as the pilot is developed.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information her Department hold on the antidepressant prescribing rate among parents and carers of children with EHC plans.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We do not currently hold any central data on that specific issue.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Version 5.0 change mandating refusal for suspended sentences of 12 months or more will apply retrospectively to convictions connected to the 2019 Hong Kong protest movement that were already disclosed to, and accepted by, her Department at the point a BNO visa was granted.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules in force at the date the application is decided, including the applicable suitability requirements.
We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government keeps the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Security Industry Authority's current consultation on proposed changes to licence-linked qualifications and training requirements, a) what evidence supports additional training requirements for existing experienced licence holders, b) how recognition of prior qualifications and competence will operate, and c) how the SIA intends to ensure that meaningful communication standards for new entrants are independently assessed.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is consulting on changes to its licence-linked qualifications and training requirements. The consultation closes on 23 October 2026 and no final decisions have been taken.
The proposals have been informed by a range of evidence and stakeholder engagement. Prior to the consultation exercise, the SIA engaged with approximately 5,200 stakeholders via webinars and formal, structured research exercises. The SIA has also taken views from other sources, including regular engagement with industry, government departments and on occasion from coroner’s rulings.
The consultation considers how existing refresher training requirements should develop, including the treatment of existing qualifications and competence. The experience of existing licence holders will inform the final arrangements.
The SIA is consulting on potential changes to the current functional English requirement, including how this is tested and assured by training providers and awarding organisations. It is also seeking views on the introduction of an additional independent English-language test. These proposals are intended to provide greater assurance that new entrants have the functional level of English required to carry out their duties safely.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the publication of New College Worcester’s report titled ‘Academically Successful and Independently Able’, what steps she is taking to clear the backlog of tribunal cases for visually impaired students needing EHCPs.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that children and young people receive the support they need without unnecessary delay. We are working with the Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and the judiciary to address the time families wait for hearings and decisions, including through recruitment of additional administrative and judicial resource, and concluding more appeals on paper without the need for a hearing.
These measures form part of a wider programme of work to improve timeliness, increase capacity and support earlier resolution of disputes, while maintaining fair and thorough consideration of every appeal.
Our ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’ consultation document set out broader reform proposals, focused on earlier identification of need and a more inclusive mainstream. These proposals should mean children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access the support they need when they need it, without having to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of thefts of hydraulic rescue equipment from fire and rescue stations on the operational capacity of fire and rescue services; and what steps her Department is taking to address such thefts.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Decisions on station security, the replacement or reallocation of stolen equipment, working with Police, and the continuity arrangements needed to maintain local cover, are all matters for each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), informed by its assessment of local risk.
The Department does not hold central data on these thefts.
The Department also is, however, working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and FRSs to improve information sharing within the sector on break-ins and equipment thefts, such that it can facilitate better understanding of the pattern of incidents and inform local protective measures within the sector.