Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment has been made of the economic impact of vehicle number plate fraud on (a) motorists, (b) insurers, and the (c) public purse.

The Government recognises the impact of number plate fraud and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collaborates with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Home Office, and other departments to enhance the identification and enforcement of number plate offences. On road enforcement remains the responsibility of the police.The government published its new Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. The consultation can be found online at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-motoring-offences.The DVLA is a member of the British Standards Institution committee, which has proposed updates to number plate standards. These changes aim to prevent the production of plates with raised or ‘ghost’ characteristics and require all finished plates to be flat. The public consultation on these proposals closed on 13 December 2025 and the committee will review feedback shortly.Efforts are underway to strengthen application and audit processes for number plate suppliers. The Department and its agencies maintain close cooperation with law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure effective information sharing. The police have established access to DVLA records for crime prevention and detection.DVLA enforcement officers work with the police and Trading Standards to conduct compliance visits to number plate suppliers, inspecting practices and records as necessary.

What discussions her Department has had with the Home Office on (a) penalties and (b) enforcement for offences involving illegal number plates.

The Government recognises the impact of number plate fraud and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collaborates with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Home Office, and other departments to enhance the identification and enforcement of number plate offences. On road enforcement remains the responsibility of the police.The government published its new Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. The consultation can be found online at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-motoring-offences.The DVLA is a member of the British Standards Institution committee, which has proposed updates to number plate standards. These changes aim to prevent the production of plates with raised or ‘ghost’ characteristics and require all finished plates to be flat. The public consultation on these proposals closed on 13 December 2025 and the committee will review feedback shortly.Efforts are underway to strengthen application and audit processes for number plate suppliers. The Department and its agencies maintain close cooperation with law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure effective information sharing. The police have established access to DVLA records for crime prevention and detection.DVLA enforcement officers work with the police and Trading Standards to conduct compliance visits to number plate suppliers, inspecting practices and records as necessary.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that the transport system supports economic growth in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

In the Spending Review of 2025 this government announced Local Transport funding of £38.19 million to Surrey County Council for the period from April 2026 to April 2030 for local transport improvements.Surrey County Council has also been allocated £38.2 million of Local Authority Bus Grant for 2026/27 to 2028/29. Local authorities will have the flexibility to use this funding to meet local needs, which could include introducing local fares schemes to further reduce the cost of bus travel.In respect of rail travel, the Chancellor and Transport Secretary have announced that regulated rail fares will be frozen for a year from March 2026, for the first time in 30 years. Over a billion journeys are going to be affected by this freeze with season tickets, anytime returns on commuter routes, and off-peak returns on longer-distance routes all subject to the freeze. Commuters in the Surrey Heath constituency could save over £200 on season tickets into London.

What guidance has been issued to transport operators to ensure passenger safety during cold weather alerts in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department expects bus operators, working with local authorities, to provide passengers with up-to-date information about local services during instances of bad weather to help ensure passenger safety. This includes information about any disruption to services, for example due to ice and snow during cold weather alerts. Surrey County Council provides information on where passengers can go to find information about disruption to local bus services on its website at: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/bus-timetable-changes/disruption-due-to-adverse-weather. In relation to the railways, this is a matter for South Western Railway and Network Rail to manage as the safety duty holders.

What steps she is taking to help tackle the illegal use of e-scooters on (a) public roads and (b) pavements in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

Enforcement of illegal e-scooter use on public roads and pavements is a matter for the police. A range of motoring offences and penalties already apply, such as criminal prosecution, points on the user’s driving licence, and having the e-scooter seized. Surrey councils and Surrey police are responsible for their local area. The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. This will help the police to crack down on those who use them in an unlawful or irresponsible way. The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the necessary tools to enforce road traffic legislation.

What assessment her Department has made of recent trends in levels of violence against women and girls in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The scale of violence against women and girls in our country is intolerable and this Government is treating it as the national emergency it is. The “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, published on 18th December 2025, sets out the strategic direction and concrete actions to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims, and to deliver our unprecedented commitment to halve VAWG in a decade. The headline metric we are using to measure progress against our ambition is through a combined estimate of the proportion of people aged 16 and over who have experienced any of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking in the previous 12 months, based on the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).Figures for domestic abuse-related offences recorded by the police are published at the Police Force Area level by the Office for National Statistics. The latest available data can be found in Table 8 here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/domesticabuseprevalenceandvictimcharacteristicsappendixtablesFigures for crime recorded by the police may be subject to issues such as recording practices and willingness of victims to contact the police.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) extremism and (b) radicalisation in the (i) South East and (ii) Surrey.

Prevent is a part of the UK’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy and intervenes early to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Home Office funds the highest threat areas to go above and beyond to ensure delivery of the Prevent Duty is targeted and effective, including 1 area in the South-East.However, the threat and risk of radicalisation is no longer contained within administrative boundaries as we see increases in online radicalisation. In response, we have introduced funding for a regional delivery officer post to provide additional support in some areas across England. Surrey is an early adopter of that model, with an officer in place who covers both Surrey and Sussex. Regional delivery officers will deliver training and community engagement work as well as supporting in a crisis response situation.In addition, Home Office provides expert support and advice to all local authorities through its regional Prevent Advisers and funding for Prevent projects in local communities that every Local Authority can access.

What discussions he has had with energy suppliers on the adequacy of support for consumers with power outages in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Ahead of winter, the Department received assurance from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), on behalf of all electricity network operators that comprehensive plans remain in place to minimise disruption and to provide support to customers in the event of power outages arising from severe weather or other faults. These arrangements apply across the country, including Surrey and Surrey Heath.

What steps she is taking to help reduce rail fares in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

For some stations in Surrey, we have simplified the complicated web of tickets by having one Peak and one Off-Peak price, with some fares changing and others being removed as part of improvements to ticketing via pay-as-you-go with contactless expansion. This will allow passengers greater flexibility in their choice of tickets, with some seeing a reduction in their ticket price. On 23 November the Chancellor and Transport Secretary announced that rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years. Over a billion journeys are going to be affected by this freeze with season tickets, anytime returns on commuter routes, and off-peak returns on longer-distance routes all subject to the freeze. For specifics on the savings his constituents can make, I refer the Honourable Member to the response provided to him for Question 98719 on 17 December. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-09/98719

What steps she is taking to provide security protections for faith communities in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer. The Government and police work closely together to review threats and strengthen protections for communities against terrorism and hate crime.Up to £70.9 million is available to protect faith communities in 2025/26. This includes £18 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £29.4 million through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools, and £3.5 million through the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme for places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths. In addition, up to £10 million of emergency funding has been made available for both Jewish and Muslim communities each to further strengthen security measures at their places of worship and other community sites.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle the sale and distribution of illicit or unlicensed medicines in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), acting on behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the regulation of medicines intended for human use in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines, which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.Sourcing weight loss medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving a product which is either falsified or not authorised for human use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict standards for quality, safety, and efficacy and can therefore expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients.Public safety is the number one priority for the MHRA, and its Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. It works closely with other health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners, including e-commerce and the internet industry to identify, remove and block online content promoting the illegal sale of medicines and medical devices.The MHRA seeks to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute online sellers responsible for putting public health at risk. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, the MHRA and its partners seized approximately 17 million doses of illegally traded medicines with a street value of more than £37 million.During the same period, it disrupted approximately 190,000 website and social media links responsible for advertising medicinal products illegally. Additionally, collaboration with one well-known online marketplace led to the successful identification and blocking of more than 1.5 million unregulated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and medical devices before they could be offered for sale to the public.The MHRA is continually developing new and innovative ways to combat the illegal trade in medicines and to raise public awareness. These measures include:publication of a #Fakemeds campaign which explains how to access medicines through safe and legitimate online sources, with further information available at the following link: https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/;public guidance on how to safely access and use GLP-1 medications, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know;development of an online service which allows the public to check if a website has been deemed ‘Not Recommended’ by the MHRA;development of a web-based reporting scheme allowing the public to report suspicious online sellers to the MHRA; andextensive work with media outlets to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal medicines.The MHRA’s continued efforts have led to more medicines being seized than ever before, significant custodial sentences for offenders, the forfeiture of criminal profits and considerable success in disrupting the illegal supply of medicines.

What steps his Department is taking to mitigate the health impacts of cold weather conditions on vulnerable people in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department works closely with the UK Health Security Agency, the Met Office, and local health and care parters to respond to Cold Health Alerts, which are issued when cold weather is forecast to pose a risk to health. Alerts are issued between 1 November and 31 March each year and are colour coded based on the likelihood and severity of health impacts. When alerts are issued, local areas, including Surrey and Surrey Health, are expected to take proportionate action to protect vulnerable people.We started planning earlier and have taken more action than in previous years to prepare for winter pressures, and to mitigate cold-weather health impacts on vulnerable people nationally. This includes actions by health and care partners in Surrey and Surrey Heath. Our focus is on maintaining patient safety and timely access to urgent and emergency care throughout the colder months.Flu remains a major seasonal challenge, particularly for older people, young children, pregnant women, and those with underlying conditions. Vaccination continues to be the most effective way to prevent severe illness and hospitalisation among vulnerable groups.

Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to support (a) local resilience and (b) emergency planning arrangements in response to cold weather conditions in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

Surrey's Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is well versed in preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies including severe weather events. The LRF has plans in place to enable them to respond effectively to severe weather events including periods of cold weather, recognised as high-risk events in their 2025-2026 Community Risk Register. MHCLG support Surrey LRF through a Strategic Resilience Advisor who gives critical support and guidance to the LRFs core business. Additionally, when UKHSA issue cold health alerts MHCLG encourages Local Authorities to initiate the policies and procedures associated with the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. alongside MHCLG’s Night Shelter Operating Principles, for safe street night shelter provision. The £547 million committed through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to local authorities across England from April 2022 to March 2025 includes support for local area winter planning. A further £10 million was allocated to local authorities through the Rough Sleeping Winter Pressure funding for 2024/25. Allocations can be found on gov.uk here.

What steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the health risks associated with (a) unlicensed or (b) illicit medicines among patients in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), acting on behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the regulation of medicines intended for human use in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines, which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.Sourcing weight loss medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving a product which is either falsified or not authorised for human use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict standards for quality, safety, and efficacy and can therefore expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients.Public safety is the number one priority for the MHRA, and its Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. It works closely with other health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners, including e-commerce and the internet industry to identify, remove and block online content promoting the illegal sale of medicines and medical devices.The MHRA seeks to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute online sellers responsible for putting public health at risk. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, the MHRA and its partners seized approximately 17 million doses of illegally traded medicines with a street value of more than £37 million.During the same period, it disrupted approximately 190,000 website and social media links responsible for advertising medicinal products illegally. Additionally, collaboration with one well-known online marketplace led to the successful identification and blocking of more than 1.5 million unregulated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and medical devices before they could be offered for sale to the public.The MHRA is continually developing new and innovative ways to combat the illegal trade in medicines and to raise public awareness. These measures include:publication of a #Fakemeds campaign which explains how to access medicines through safe and legitimate online sources, with further information available at the following link: https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/;public guidance on how to safely access and use GLP-1 medications, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know;development of an online service which allows the public to check if a website has been deemed ‘Not Recommended’ by the MHRA;development of a web-based reporting scheme allowing the public to report suspicious online sellers to the MHRA; andextensive work with media outlets to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal medicines.The MHRA’s continued efforts have led to more medicines being seized than ever before, significant custodial sentences for offenders, the forfeiture of criminal profits and considerable success in disrupting the illegal supply of medicines.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of opportunities for installing solar panels on commercial properties in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

No specific assessment of the adequacy of opportunities for installing solar panels on commercial properties in Surrey or Surrey Heath has been made. However, rooftop solar remains a key part of the Government’s clean power mission and is one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. The Government supports commercial rooftop deployment through measures such as permitted development rights, favourable tax treatment, and the Smart Export Guarantee. These policies apply across England, including Surrey, and aim to make it easier for businesses to install solar panels where suitable roof space is available.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle cyber crime in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Cyber crime causes huge damage to people and businesses across the UK and is a leading priority for the Government. The Home Office works with our partners across Government and law enforcement, including the National Crime Agency, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Policing to tackle all cyber threat, including cyber crime.The Home Office funds the Regional Cyber Crime Units (RCCUs) across England and Wales, tasked with investigating and pursuing serious cyber offenders conducting crime committed in, or against, the UK. This includes the South East Cyber Crime Unit in the South East Regional Crime Unit (SEROCU), which covers Surrey and Surrey Heath. Since 2017, in partnership with local Police and Crime Commissioners, the Home Office has directly funded a national network of specialist officers trained to investigate cyber crime and support local communities in efforts to prevent crimes that occur online.The South East Cyber Crime Unit is the first in the UK to operate as a fully collaborated unit across the South East Region. It brings together experts from SEROCU, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Thames Valley Police, Surrey Police, and Sussex Police into a single flexible capability. The unit follows the Serious and Organised Crime ‘4P’ model, including Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare, with each force retaining a Pursue Team working collaboratively with regional resources.Cyber crime is treated as Serious and Organised Crime within SEROCU’s control strategy. The aim is to identify, disrupt, and reduce the impact of cyber criminals as part of the National Cyber Network. SEROCU target offenders profiting from cyber tools or stolen data, carry out work to prevent cyber crime and pursue criminal justice outcomes as appropriate.Through Protect and Prepare work, SEROCU engage businesses and communities via outreach, webinars, and partnerships to improve cyber security awareness and assist the public and organisations in recovery and resilience. This includes the Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) for the South East, funded by the Home Office, which offers a package of measures to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), providing tailored advice and long-term support, aligned to National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) standards, helping these organisations take proactive steps towards improving their cyber security.

What steps her Department is taking to help improve police efficiency in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The policing system must be equipped to serve the public effectively and to make efficient use of its funding and resources.The Government has established a Police Efficiency and Collaboration Programme which will save £354 million and free up millions of officer hours by 2029 across policing. The programme’s initiatives are available to all 43 forces across England & Wales. Surrey has already started to participate in some of the programme’s offerings including signing up to a new commercial energy strategy to increase price certainty and reduce risk in a volatile market.In the coming weeks, we will be setting out further reforms in a white paper on policing.Surrey Police will receive up to £343 million in 2026/27, an increase of up to £14.8 million when compared to the 2025/26 police funding settlement.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce hit-and-run incidents where drivers cannot be identified.

Failing to stop and report an incident is unacceptable, particularly in cases where an individual has been seriously or fatally injured. On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, we are reviewing the motoring offences and have published a consultation. The consultation includes questions about failure to stop and report incidents and seeks views on possible changes to the law.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities in Surrey undergoing transition to unitary status on taking major strategic planning decisions during the reorganisation period.

The Planning Advisory Service has a range of resources available to assist local planning authorities going through reorganisation, including their local government Reorganisation Delivery Network, which allows authorities to share best practice. I encourage councils going through transition to take full advantage of these resources. Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, the new duty to prepare a spatial development strategy (SDS) will be commenced later in 2026. Initially this duty will sit with Surrey County Council and will then transfer to the new unitary councils in 2027. Officers from the County Council are in contact with MHCLG officials and will consider how best to manage this duty over the coming year.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential for connected and autonomous vehicle technology to support vehicle (a) identification and (b) compliance with insurance requirements.

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 sets out the regulations for insurance requirements of automated vehicles. The operator or owner of an automated vehicle must hold a policy of insurance that satisfies the conditions in section 145 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The recent call for evidence launched in December 2025 seeks views on various aspects of the automated vehicles regulatory framework, including insurance. Responses received will support future consultation on the proposed regulations and implementation of the full Act in the second half of 2027.