Written questions by Pinkerton.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent trends in levels of antisemitism in Surrey.

Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, which is why we’re taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms, wherever it manifests. We work closely with partners to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities throughout the UK. This includes working together with the Jewish community to monitor levels of religiously motivated hatred. On 17 December 2026, the government published a paper setting out recent actions to combat antisemitism. Further information is available here. This is just the start. We are continuing to work, at pace, across government to combat antisemitism in all corners of our society.

What steps he is taking to support people with musculoskeletal conditions into work in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Just under 18 million people in England were estimated to be affected by musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in 2023 and improving their health and work outcomes will help deliver this government's mission to kickstart economic growth. MSK problems were one of the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK in 2024. Early detection and prevention, including increasing access to employment advice, can support people with MSK conditions getting into and remaining in work. The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including MSK conditions, 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 in Surrey and Surrey Heath, such as support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well Connect to Work and WorkWell. We are also working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders, including in Surrey Heartlands ICB, to further reduce MSK community wait lists, which are the highest of all community waiting lists in England, and improve data and metrics and referral pathways to wider support services.

What steps she is taking to help ensure fraud offences affecting small businesses are properly investigated in Surrey Heath constituency.

Fraud is a serious and growing threat to businesses, including small businesses, and the Government is committed to ensuring that fraud offences are properly investigated and prevented.The Government has taken steps to ensure that Fraud is reflected in local policing priorities. This includes improving reporting through the new Report Fraud service and strengthening law enforcement capability through the National Fraud Squad.Police forces in England and Wales will now be assessed on an ongoing basis on their fraud response as part of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy Framework.The national Stop! Think Fraud campaign, provides practical advice to help people and businesses protect themselves. In addition, we have published a dedicated checklist for small businesses to help small firms reduce their exposure to fraud.Fraud often begins with a cyber-attack. The Government funds a network of regional Cyber Resilience Centres across England and Wales, which provide trusted, tailored advice and support to businesses.The Government will soon publish a new Fraud Strategy which will outline further measures to tackle fraud against business.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help improve the private rented sector for tenants in Surrey Heath constituency.

A summary of the measures in the Renters’ Rights Act can be found on gov.uk here and a roadmap for implementation can be found on gov.uk here.Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) already apply in the private rented sector, requiring landlords to ensure their properties meet at least an EPC rating of E. Local authorities have powers to enforce these standards. Under the updated PRS MEES framework, this minimum standard will rise to EPC C by 2030. This change will help tenants benefit from lower energy bills and warmer, healthier homes that are less prone to damp and mould, contributing to reduced fuel poverty.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in the State Pension age on people with long-term health conditions in Surrey Heath constituency.

The increase of State Pension age from 66 to 67 is occurring between April 2026 and March 2028. There will be people with long-term health conditions approaching State Pension age amongst those experiencing this change. People with long-term health conditions will continue to be supported by the benefit system up to and beyond reaching State Pension age.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Building Safety Regulator in Surrey.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is actively involved in ensuring the safety of several Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs) in Surrey. The BSR’s data for Surrey shows that:There are 71 Registered HRBs with 86 structures.12 have been directed for Building Assessment Certificate1 has been Approved and 2 Refused, the remainder remain under assessment6 HRBs in the Surrey region have had Investigations. Four investigations have been closed and 2 remain ongoing.One investigation resulted in Enforcement action being taken in the form of a contravention letter. In terms of Building Control, the BSR’s data shows that:4 Building Control applications have been received1 has been rejected with the remaining 3 awaiting a decision. The BSR continues to work with stakeholders and industry to improve the quality of applications and to drive up approval rates.

What steps he is taking to improve the diagnosis of menopause for women in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, and we acknowledge the impact that women suffering from symptoms of menopause has on their lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.As announced in October, we will be asking local authorities to include menopause in the NHS Health Check later this year. This will support eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms, where to seek support, and a diagnosis.Menopause and menstrual health conditions will be among the priorities for the NHS’s revolutionary new online hospital when it launches next year, providing faster access to specialist care.In Surrey Heath, primary care teams across the practices are also conscious of the impact of the menopause in the local population and have seen a rise in consultations with regard to this. The multi-disciplinary teams in Surrey Heath, including general practitioners, nurses, clinical pharmacists, and others, are able to manage enquiries, consultations, and follow ups, and to offer relevant treatment across the spectrum of what is available, including hormone intrauterine devices and testosterone replacement.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of private finance initiatives on NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Operational health private finance initiatives (PFI) contracts are held by individual trusts. The last PFI contract was signed in 2015.As announced at the Autumn Budget, the Department is supporting the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority to develop the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for neighbourhood health centres (NHCs). The new NHC PPP model will build on lessons from the past, including the National Audit Office’s 2025 report on private finance and other models currently in use. We are not bringing back PFI.The new PPP model is about delivering the infrastructure to support the delivery of neighbourhood services, and we are not using the private sector to deliver the National Health Service clinical services that will be delivered from these centres.The need for NHCs will be locally driven and will recognise what already exists and where additional provision or a new combination of services is needed. Any new PPP model will need to demonstrate value for money and affordability.

What protections are in place within the Child Maintenance Service to support parents and children experiencing financial abuse.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) takes the issue of domestic abuse extremely seriously and recognises that domestic abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional, or financial abuse, violent or threatening behaviour and coercive control. CMS has procedures to ensure victims and survivors can use the service safely. All caseworkers receive training to identify abuse and signpost parents to specialist domestic abuse organisations where needed. A Specialist Case Team manages the most complex cases, reducing the need for victims to repeat their experiences and ensuring tailored support for vulnerable customers. For Direct Pay cases, CMS can act as an intermediary to exchange bank details, preventing any unwanted contact between parents. CMS can also advise on secure bank accounts with centralised sort codes to reduce the risk of location being traced. The Government's intention remains to remove Direct Pay and move to a single service in which CMS collects and transfers all payments. This will remove the need for victims and survivors to provide evidence of domestic abuse and eliminate direct contact between parents. CMS will monitor all payments and act swiftly where payments fail, helping to tackle non-compliance and better support victims and survivors. We intend to implement these changes as soon as parliamentary time allows.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce health disparities in deprived communities in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is a priority for the Government to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths.A core mission of the 10-Year Health Plan is to reduce the persistent inequalities that shape people’s health, including within communities. The plan’s three shifts all serve one purpose, to improve outcomes for those who face the greatest disadvantage.We know everyday life poses greater health risks to those living in deprived communities, whether it is the price of healthy food, the level of pollution, or the quality of jobs available. Therefore, we are focussing on flagship prevention policies like reducing obesity and smoking and taking co-ordinated action across Government on the wider determinants of health priorities like air quality and fuel poverty. We are also taking a range of cross-Government action to tackle health inequality. This includes the introduction of Awaab’s Law, ensuring landlords will have to fix significant damp and mould hazards, and we are also legislating for a new statutory health and health inequalities duty for strategic authorities.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ South East Regional Team provides system leadership for population health and reducing health inequalities across the South East, including Surrey. Local authorities, both upper tier and unitary, in England are responsible for improving the health of their local population and for reducing health inequalities. The Department provides them with the ring-fenced public health grant to carry out these duties.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent ill health in Surrey Heath constituency.

The 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future announced ambitious measures to make the healthy choice the easy choice, including for people in Surrey Heath. This includes tackling the obesity epidemic through mandatory healthy food sales reporting, business targets to increase the healthiness of products sold, and restrictions on junk food advertising strengthening and expanding alcohol labelling and tackling air pollution. We are already delivering with our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will create a smoke-free United Kingdom.We will also be asking the National Health Service to do more to support our approach to prevention. This includes through our world leading immunisation programmes and screening programmes, improving the detection, treatment, and management of the behavioural and clinical risk factors that drive England’s burden of disease.NHS bodies and upper tier and unitary local authorities in England commission a range of preventative health services and are responsible for taking local decisions on the resources allocated to them. Core funding for upper tier and unitary local authorities in England public health responsibilities is through the Public Health Grant. The Government will continue to invest in local authorities' vital public health work, providing more than £13.4 billion over the next three years through a consolidated Public Health Grant, giving local authorities greater certainty to support long term prevention planning and make the best decisions to promote better population health.NHS spending will increase by £15 billion in real terms by 2028/29, taking the resource budget to £225 billion, and the health capital budget will increase to £15.2 billion by the end of the Spending Review period. The Surrey local authority will receive nearly £50 million in 2026/27 through their Public Health Grant. From 1 April 2026, Surrey Heath will fall under the Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board which will see its recurrent core services allocation uplifted by 2.28% in 2026/27.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of health-related funding for specialist sexual violence support services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide crisis care, and medical and forensic assessment for people who have experienced sexual assault. NHS England’s funding for sexual assault and abuse services has increased year on year, with £57.632 million provided nationally in 2024/25. A free at the point of use, confidential SARC is available in Surrey 24/7, 365 days a year.As set out in the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in December 2025, the Department will:roll out, with funding, a domestic abuse and sexual violence referral service across integrated care boards (ICBs) by 2029, starting with up to ten ICBs in 2026, and will include a specialist support worker for every general practice (GP) to draw on and training for GP staff to spot the signs of violence and abuse;invest a further £5 million each year for the next three years to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence; andprovide up to £50 million to roll out specialist services for child sexual abuse victims to each NHS region in England.

What steps his Department is taking to help improve timely diagnosis and access to treatment for heart valve disease in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department has made no specific assessment. The Frimley Health Foundation Trust (FHFT) has been developing a pathway for breathlessness to support diagnosis and will be providing access for Surrey residents, including through a community diagnostic centre (CDC).The FHFT is also testing a new rapid access diagnostic pathway with a multi-disciplinary team for respiratory and cardiology, to agree a diagnosis and treatment plan for people with heart valve disease. The new pathway has been tested at Heatherwood Hospital and is shortly going live in the CDC. The FHFT will also roll this pathway out more widely across the trust shortly.Nationally, the Government is committed to achieving a 25% reduction in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke across England. To accelerate progress and tackle variation across the country, a new CVD Modern Service Framework is currently in development.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of improving methodologies for (a) early intervention and (b) diagnosis of children with special educational needs in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

Effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Access to support should not be dependent on a child or young person having a diagnosis, and a diagnosis alone does not help a teacher know what strategies to use to support that child in the classroom.As set out in the SEND reform consultation document “Putting Children and Young People First”, the department will develop National Inclusion Standards. These will set out evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs, before those needs escalate. By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to build the evidence base for, and then provide, National Inclusion Standards.In addition, government-backed research delivered by UK Research Innovation in partnership with the department will aim to develop and roll out approaches for the early identification, strengths and needs assessment, and support of children and young people with special educational needs.The department and NHS England continue to track the progress that the Surrey Local Area Partnership is making following its Ofsted/CQC SEND inspection in September 2023, which found inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND, alongside providing on-going advice, support and challenge.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of improved early intervention and diagnostic methodologies for children with special educational needs on levels of SEND provision in local authorities.

Effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Access to support should not be dependent on a child or young person having a diagnosis, and a diagnosis alone does not help a teacher know what strategies to use to support that child in the classroom.As set out in the SEND reform consultation document “Putting Children and Young People First”, the department will develop National Inclusion Standards. These will set out evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs, before those needs escalate. By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to build the evidence base for, and then provide, National Inclusion Standards.In addition, government-backed research delivered by UK Research Innovation in partnership with the department will aim to develop and roll out approaches for the early identification, strengths and needs assessment, and support of children and young people with special educational needs.The department and NHS England continue to track the progress that the Surrey Local Area Partnership is making following its Ofsted/CQC SEND inspection in September 2023, which found inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND, alongside providing on-going advice, support and challenge.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) early detection and (b) diagnostic pathways for heart valve disease in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department has made no specific assessment. The Frimley Health Foundation Trust (FHFT) has been developing a pathway for breathlessness to support diagnosis and will be providing access for Surrey residents, including through a community diagnostic centre (CDC).The FHFT is also testing a new rapid access diagnostic pathway with a multi-disciplinary team for respiratory and cardiology, to agree a diagnosis and treatment plan for people with heart valve disease. The new pathway has been tested at Heatherwood Hospital and is shortly going live in the CDC. The FHFT will also roll this pathway out more widely across the trust shortly.Nationally, the Government is committed to achieving a 25% reduction in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke across England. To accelerate progress and tackle variation across the country, a new CVD Modern Service Framework is currently in development.

What assessment he has made of (a) the prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Surrey Heath constituency compared with the national average.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme. There has not, therefore, been a specific assessment made in relation to winter pressures.Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number the number of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for Surrey Heath and England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Residence2024/25 (August 2024 to March 2025)2025/26 (April 2025 to November 2025)Surrey Heath715550England608,449423,588Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Surrey can be found at the following link: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E10000030/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a respiratory Modern Service Framework on winter pressures on NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme. There has not, therefore, been a specific assessment made in relation to winter pressures.Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number the number of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for Surrey Heath and England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Residence2024/25 (August 2024 to March 2025)2025/26 (April 2025 to November 2025)Surrey Heath715550England608,449423,588Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Surrey can be found at the following link: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E10000030/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to ring fence fencing funding previously allocated to the Darwin Plus programme for environmental protection projects in the UK Overseas Territories.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities. An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have: Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; andBrought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013. Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for environmental outcomes in the UK Overseas Territories of any interruption to the Darwin Plus programme.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities. An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have: Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; andBrought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013. Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.