Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Surrey’s Steps to Change hub.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, we have committed to expanding access to tailored interventions for domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators across England and Wales.
The Home Office has launched a £74.5 million competition for the Domestic Abuse and Stalking Perpetrator Intervention Fund which will provide funding over two and a half years (until 31 March 2029).
The competition is open to all Police and Crime Commissioners, and includes interventions tailored to different domestic abuse and stalking perpetrator cohorts and for the first time, ringfenced funding for interventions for children who use harm.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her department has made of the potential impact of the requirement for A2 licence holders to retake both Module 1 and Module 2 practical tests in order to progress to a full category A licence on (a) test waiting times, (b) training costs for riders, and (c) the availability of training providers willing to offer partial training courses; and whether her department plans to introduce a progressive access route based on structured training and assessment.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current motorcycle licensing regime requires riders seeking to progress from category A2 to category A through the licence upgrade route to successfully complete both Module 1 and Module 2 practical tests.
The Department has not identified evidence that this requirement is creating significant pressures on motorcycle test waiting times, nor evidence of a shortage of approved training providers willing to deliver the training required for riders progressing from A2 to A licences.
While riders will incur additional training and test fees when progressing to a full category A licence, the current arrangements are intended to ensure that riders demonstrate the higher level of skills and competencies required to ride larger and more powerful motorcycles.
The Government recently consulted on proposals for motorcycle licensing reform, including options for a progressive access route based on structured training and assessment. The consultation closed on 11 May 2026, and the responses are currently being analysed. Further information about the consultation is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her department is taking to help improve local authorities’ children’s services a) across the country and b) where children’s services teams are being transferred to new local authorities as a result of local government reorganisation.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We are delivering the biggest overhaul of children’s social care in a generation, investing significantly to support local authorities to improve services for children and families. Through the £2.4 billion Families First Partnership programme, we are helping local authorities strengthen early intervention, family help and child protection services. Earlier this year, we passed the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which includes landmark measures to help families stay together, keep children safe, and support children in the care system to thrive.
Throughout the local government reorganisation process, it is essential that local authorities continue to deliver their children’s services and duties. The department provides targeted support to local authorities through our Improvement and Intervention Programme, including expert advisers, children’s social care improvement teams and special educational needs and disabilities sector-led improvement partnerships. Our regional teams will work closely with the new unitary local authorities on the support necessary for strong children’s services.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department has assessed how local authorities' interpretations of blue badge regulations differ.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not conducted an assessment of how local authorities' interpretations of Blue Badge regulations differ. The Department expects all local authorities to comply with the relevant Blue Badge legislation.
Within that framework, local authorities are responsible for determining and implementing the administrative, assessment, and enforcement procedures they consider to be in accordance with the governing legislation.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the use of surveillance cameras manufactured by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People's Republic of China.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
In November 2022, the previous administration instructed all government departments to cease deployment of surveillance equipment on their sensitive sites where it is manufactured by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People’s Republic of China. As I confirmed in my statement on Tuesday 18 November 2025, all sensitive sites originally identified with such equipment have now finished their replacement work.
The National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Agency provide extensive support to local authorities to mitigate threats to national security – including guidance on surveillance equipment. This guidance is available to all, including local authorities, on the NPSA Protected Procurement webpage.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the role of the new local assurance board in Surrey.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is committed to working closely with councils to ensure the right support is available throughout local government reorganisation implementation to mitigate key risks and challenges. As part of this, we have established an Implementation Forum to provide assurance and support for Surrey. Its role is to identify and mitigate risks that could affect delivery, secure cross-government coordination, and identify any support required to enable successful implementation.
As such, the Surrey Implementation Forum will support the successful establishment of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council by testing implementation plans and reviewing progress against a set of 22 delivery indicators. These indicators were described in the “Sector Support Note” that was shared with MPs on 16 July 2026 and published on gov.uk. They have been developed with local government colleagues and build on lessons learnt from previous reorganisations. The Forum will meet on a quarterly basis, bringing together representatives of Surrey’s Implementation Team with officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care and other Government departments as required.
Equivalent arrangements are being put in place across all areas undergoing local government reorganisation.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the surface access requirements in the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) will require the promoter to deliver or fund a direct rail route between Woking and Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of surface access to any future expansion of Heathrow Airport.
The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement states that enhanced rail connectivity is necessary to support expansion and achieve public transport mode share targets. It requires any expansion promoter to set out in its surface access strategy, required as part of the development consent process, the rail enhancements it proposes to deliver, together with a credible delivery plan and how any necessary schemes will be financed, developed with Network Rail and other relevant stakeholders.
The Government has not identified a preferred rail scheme, giving promoters flexibility to develop proposals that support their wider surface access strategy.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her department has assessed the potential merits of increasing the service pupil premium.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
This government is committed to improving outcomes for all children, including those from service families. The department works closely with the Ministry of Defence to support service pupils and help schools address challenges associated with service life, including mobility and family separation.
Schools receive Service Pupil Premium funding to provide additional pastoral and educational support. Current evidence shows that service pupils generally achieve attainment and progression outcomes comparable to their non-service peers, suggesting that the support available, including the Service Pupil Premium, make a positive impact.
The department keeps all education funding arrangements under review as part of wider policy and spending considerations.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to continue the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK.
The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability. The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme has been extended, allowing Ukrainians who continue to require sanctuary in the UK to apply for a further 24 months' permission. Through UPE, eligible individuals can secure up to three and a half years' permission in total, in addition to any permission previously granted under the Ukraine Schemes.
This means the first grants made under the UPE extension will not begin to expire until August 2028. The Government recognises the importance of longer-term clarity and will ensure that a clear position is in place before those extensions begin to expire.
No decisions have yet been taken on whether the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme will continue beyond the current extension period. The Government is actively considering the future position, drawing on evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner and intends to make a further statement as soon as it is possible, to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is able to intervene in a shadow authority.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
During the transition period, new unitary authorities differ from local authorities in having only a narrowly defined set of responsibilities and functions allocated to them through the relevant Structural Change Order for their area. These functions are focussed solely on preparation for reorganisation, rather than service delivery for residents. New unitary authorities in the transition period are therefore bound by their legal obligations under the Structural Change Order, rather than the more general Best Value Duty applied to local authorities.
In the event that new unitary authorities encounter difficulties in meeting their legal responsibilities during the transition period, the Department will engage locally to consider what support may be appropriate. As a backstop, statutory provision exists for the appointment of an arbitrator where relevant authorities cannot reach agreement before vesting day, including in relation to the disaggregation of property, income, rights, liabilities and expenses, as well as financial reserves.