Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing specialist support services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency.

We published the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan on 22 July 2025. The plan focusses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease, including those in the Surrey Heath constituency.The ME/CFS final delivery plan includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for people with very severe ME/CFS across England. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.NHS England has also started its work on co-designing resources for systems to improve services for mild and moderate ME/CFS, including for patients in the Surrey Heath constituency. It will meet a group of key stakeholders to progress this in the coming weeks.To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, as set out in the final delivery plan, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. All three sessions of the e-learning programme, with sessions one and two having universal access, whilst the third session is only available to healthcare professionals, are now available at the following link:https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

What steps he is taking to ensure timely access to NHS services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency.

We published the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan on 22 July 2025. The plan focusses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease, including those in the Surrey Heath constituency.The ME/CFS final delivery plan includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for people with very severe ME/CFS across England. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.NHS England has also started its work on co-designing resources for systems to improve services for mild and moderate ME/CFS, including for patients in the Surrey Heath constituency. It will meet a group of key stakeholders to progress this in the coming weeks.To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, as set out in the final delivery plan, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. All three sessions of the e-learning programme, with sessions one and two having universal access, whilst the third session is only available to healthcare professionals, are now available at the following link:https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Royal Mail's workforce (a) recruitment and (b) retention rates in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore recruitment and retention policies are for its management. The government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it is for Ofcom to oversee Royal Mail’s delivery of the universal service obligation and decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. Ofcom takes compliance with its regulatory targets seriously and this involves conducting thorough investigations where failures have been identified.In October, Ofcom fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality-of-service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) protect dormice habitats in Surrey Heath constituency.

Defra is not currently monitoring hazel dormice habitats in the Surrey Heath constituency. Surrey’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species such as hazel dormice, which are considered a priority species in the LNRS. Hazel dormice, their breeding sites and resting places are legally protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of electricity costs for residents living in retirement housing in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department closely follows electricity price trends on a regular basis. You can find the most reliable sources for these trends and further information on energy cost statistics here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/quarterly-energy-prices No such assessment exists for specific sectors such as retirement homes. The specific costs for consumers, including retirement homes, will depend on the terms of their energy contracts with their energy supplier or the arrangements that their retirement homes have made The Government is aware that energy bills are too high, particularly for vulnerable consumers, and we are wholly focused on bringing these costs down.

Whether his Department plans to review their guidance on electricity usage assumptions for households with higher reliance on electric heating.

The Department does not provide guidance on electricity usage assumptions for households with higher reliance on electric heating. However, the Quarterly Energy Prices bills estimates are presented for average domestic gas and electricity consumption levels including assumptions for average consumption for standard electricity and Economy 7. These are reviewed regularly and updated at least every five years. Further detail of the methodology used is available Average Annual Domestic Consumption Levels Review: methodology note. These differ from Ofgem’s Typical Domestic Consumption Values which provide the annual gas and electricity usage of a ‘typical’ domestic consumer, expressed as the median consumption value.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of guidance relating to typical household utility costs in (a) retirement and (b) sheltered accommodation in Surrey.

The government has made no such assessment.

What discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on ensuring that public transport infrastructure remains (a) resilient and (b) operational during winter 2025-26 in Surrey Heath constituency.

My officials hold regular meetings with Surrey County Council to discuss transport in Surrey. We will shortly announce the regional allocations for the majority of the transport funding announced in the Spending Review. We have informed Surrey County Council of their allocation of the Local Transport Grant which is £38.19 million for the period from April 2026 to April 2030 for local transport improvements.

Whether his Department plans to allocate funding in the Autumn Budget 2025 to improve access to NHS dentistry for (a) children and (b) pensioners in Surrey Heath constituency.

NHS England have now published the Medium-Term Planning Framework, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29/National Health Service organisations are now in the process of developing their operational plans that will detail how they will meet the standards set out in the Medium-Term Planning Framework.A separate schedule will be issued setting out the ringfence for dental services including 2026/27 to 2028/29 integrated care board pharmacy optometry and dental allocations.Access to NHS dentistry, including for pensioners and children, remains a priority for the Government.

What the average waiting period is between failing a driving test and being able to book a re-test at test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire.

The average waiting time in weeks for a practical driving at test in October for test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire is shown below. Basingstoke – 9.5 weeksChertsey – 24 weeksFarnborough - 24 weeksGuildford - 24 weeksLee on Solent – 24 weeksMitcham – 24 weeksNewport (Isle of Wight) – 24 weeksPortsmouth – 24 weeksRedhill – 24 weeksSouthampton – 24 weeksTolworth – 24 weeksWest Wickam – 24 weeksWinchester – 24 weeks Every candidate has an equally important reason for wanting to take and pass their practical driving test. DVSA does not prioritise those candidates who have taken a practical driving test and been unsuccessful over those candidates taking their test for the first time.

How many theory test certificates have expired before a learner was able to sit a practical driving test in the South East since 2020.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is not able estimate the number of theory test certificates that have expired due to learners being unable to sit a practical driving test in the Southeast. Some learners who pass their theory test might decide, due to various reasons, not to book or take their practical driving test.DVSA is doing everything it can to ensure that learners can access practical tests within the theory test validity period, to prevent candidates from having to retake the theory test.The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.Ensuring learner drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the learning to drive process as new drivers are disproportionately casualties on our roads. Learners therefore need to pass another theory test if their two-year theory test certificate expires.

Whether his Department has considered the potential merits of commissioning research on the long-term health impact associated with occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the NHS workforce.

The Department supports health and social care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR invites funding applications for research into any area of human health and care, including the long-term health effects of occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the National Health Service workforce. All applications are assessed through peer review and open competition, with awards granted based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. By welcoming proposals on this topic across all NIHR programmes, the Department ensures maximum flexibility in both the level of funding available and the type of research that may be supported. The Government has not specifically commissioned any research into the long-term health impact of occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the NHS workforce.

How many practical driving tests were cancelled due to examiner unavailability at test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire since 2020.

The attached Excel document shows the number of car practical driving tests cancelled since 2020 at driving test centres in Surrey and Hampshire, where the reason category recorded was, ‘examiner unavailable’. Please note, that tests that were subsequently rebooked for the same day as the cancelled test, are excluded. Please also note that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can currently only publish this data up to 31 March 2025.

What support is being provided to NHS organisations to improve safety measures for staff involved in the (a) preparation or (b) administration of higher-risk medicines.

All medicines, including higher-risk ones, are potentially hazardous and should be handled with care during preparation to avoid unnecessary exposure. National Health Service providers are required to follow health and safety legislation and COSHH regulations at all stages.The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s guidance, Professional guidance in the safe and secure handling of medicine, includes specific recommendations for the safe preparation of higher-risk medicines. NHS providers are expected to adhere to these standards as part of their statutory and professional obligations under the NHS Standard Contract.The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Medicines Optimisation Quality Statement, along with statements on Safe Environments and Safe and Effective Staffing, also set out requirements for appropriate training, equipment, and policies to ensure staff safety during preparation.The same principles of safety and regulatory compliance apply during the administration of higher-risk medicines. Staff must follow established protocols to minimise risk and ensure safe handling.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of medicines and medical devices. When a safety issue is identified, the MHRA communicates with healthcare professionals and stakeholders through channels such as the GOV.UK website, direct emails, and safety alerts, using different methods depending on urgency and impact.The MHRA’s three-year Strategy for Improving Communications aims to deliver more coordinated, targeted, and effective safety communications to healthcare professionals and patients, supporting safe administration practices.The CQC’s quality statements also require providers to have appropriate policies and procedures in place to support both patient and staff safety during the administration of medicines.

What steps his Department is taking to review how information on potentially hazardous medicinal products is shared across the NHS.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of medicines and medical devices, and it continually reviews product safety.When a safety issue is identified, the MHRA communicates with healthcare professionals and stakeholders through various channels, such as the GOV.UK website, direct emails, and safety alerts, and may use different methods depending on the urgency and impact of the issue.The MHRA’s three-year Strategy for Improving Communications aims to deliver more coordinated, targeted, and effective safety communications to healthcare professionals and patients using the best available channels.NHS England has stipulated that all large providers of National Health Services must designate a Medication Safety Officer. They are mandated to implement medication safety within their organisations and are updated regularly on current issues and learning.NHS England is also reducing risk to staff by increasing the availability of ready to administer products through its Transforming Aseptic Services Programme, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-nhs-pharmacy-aseptic-services-in-england/transforming-nhs-pharmacy-aseptic-services-in-englandThe Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Medicines Optimisation Quality Statement, a copy of which is attached, is focused on ensuring that patients are able to access their medicines safely. The CQC would therefore expect providers to be following their organisations processes and national guidance, where relevant, to ensure that this happens. Organisations providing care need to ensure that staff have the relevant information available to them to keep patients safe through appropriate medicines use, as well as supporting them to undertake their roles safely.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing additional safeguards for newly qualified drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

What recent discussions her Department has had with road safety organisations regarding measures to reduce serious incidents involving young drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the number of young people involved in serious road traffic collisions in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

What estimate her Department has made of the scale of keyless car theft enabled by signal-amplifying technology in Surrey Heath constituency.

Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.We are also working with the police and industry, to ensure a strong response to vehicle crime, including keyless car theft.The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of, and from, vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent the online sale of devices capable of compromising keyless vehicle security in Surrey Heath constituency.

Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.We are also working with the police and industry, to ensure a strong response to vehicle crime, including keyless car theft.The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of, and from, vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.