Written questions by Pinkerton.

What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Post Office (a) litigation, (b) compensation schemes and (c) public communications related to Horizon IT.

No public funding commitments nor costs have been incurred to date with regards to litigation.At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government set aside £1.8 billion of funding for redress payments from 2024-25 in addition to around £200 million that had already been distributed. This is not a target or limit. As of 31 October 2025, approximately £1,273 million has been paid to over 9,500 claimants.As part of the spending review settlement over £500 million has been committed over the Parliament to allow the Post Office to implement its Strategic Transformation Plan, including the replacement of the legacy Horizon computer system.

Whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the consistency of sentencing outcomes for (a) veterans and (b) non-veterans convicted of similar offences.

Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless in the interests of justice not to do so. Sentencing guidelines help promote consistency and transparency in sentencing. Whilst the fact that someone is a veteran is not explicitly listed as a mitigating factor in statute nor in sentencing guidelines, judges have the flexibility to consider relevant factors in an individual case and could, for example, choose to take previous positive good character or exemplary conduct into account when determining a sentence, if considered appropriate to do so based on the full facts of the case. We do not hold data concerning the previous military service of those sentenced at the criminal courts and so are unable to make an assessment of sentencing outcomes for this cohort relative to non-veterans. More generally, prisoners are asked on entry into custody whether they have served in the armed forces, and responses are then checked against Ministry of Defence records.

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on simplifying the process for transferring mobile contracts between family members while retaining existing numbers.

The Government works closely with Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, to ensure that consumers feel empowered interacting with the telecoms sector and feel they are getting a good deal.We have not had recent discussions with Ofcom on this specific matter but keep the regulatory landscape under review to ensure that it is accessible and as simple as possible for consumers to get a good deal.

What steps his Department is taking to improve data collection on (a) the number of veterans serving custodial sentences and (b) potential disparities in sentencing outcomes.

Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless in the interests of justice not to do so. Sentencing guidelines help promote consistency and transparency in sentencing. Whilst the fact that someone is a veteran is not explicitly listed as a mitigating factor in statute nor in sentencing guidelines, judges have the flexibility to consider relevant factors in an individual case and could, for example, choose to take previous positive good character or exemplary conduct into account when determining a sentence, if considered appropriate to do so based on the full facts of the case. We do not hold data concerning the previous military service of those sentenced at the criminal courts and so are unable to make an assessment of sentencing outcomes for this cohort relative to non-veterans. More generally, prisoners are asked on entry into custody whether they have served in the armed forces, and responses are then checked against Ministry of Defence records.

What assessment his Department has made of the eligibility criteria for individuals to be considered for (a) Covid and (b) Flu vaccinations in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and flu through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Eligibility for vaccination programmes informed by JCVI advice is set at a national level. The primary aim of the vaccination programmes remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19 and flu.The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.The focus of the JCVI advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.The Government has accepted the JCVI advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups in autumn 2025:- adults aged 75 years old and over;- residents in care homes for older adults; and- individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.Flu is a recurring pressure that the National Health Service faces every winter. There is particular risk of severe illness for older people, the very young, pregnant people, and those with certain underlying health conditions. In line with the JCVI’s advice, those eligible to receive a free flu vaccine on the NHS this autumn are those who: - are children aged two or three years old on 31 August 2025;- are primary school aged children, from Reception to Year 6;- are secondary school aged children, from Year 7 to Year 11;- are children in clinical risk groups aged from six months to less than 18 years old;- are aged 65 years old or over, including those who will be 65 years old by 31 March 2026;- have certain long-term health conditions;- are pregnant;- live in a care home;- are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance;- live with someone who has a weakened immune system;- are frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers, and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments, for personal budgets, or Personal Health budgets, such as personal assistants; and- frontline health and social care workers, who can access the flu vaccine through their employer. There are circumstances where frontline staff, employed by specific social care providers without access to employer led occupational health schemes, see cohort eligibility above, can access the vaccine through the NHS free of charge.As with other United Kingdom vaccination programmes, the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for both of these programmes carefully considered the evidence on the risk of illness, serious disease, or death as a consequence of infection, in specific groups, as well as a cost-effectiveness analysis. The JCVI keeps their advice under review.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) condition and (b) maintenance standards of Armed Forces accommodation in Surrey Heath constituency.

As at 12 November 2025, 99% of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties serving the Surrey Heath constituency meet or exceed the Decent Homes Standard (DHS). Maintenance standards for SFA follow provisions outlined in JSP 464, the DHS and the Housing Health and Rating Safety System, with contractual performance measures ensuring statutory safety checks and maintenance are completed effectively. The Ministry of Defence ensures effective and reliable housing maintenance services for Armed Forces personnel through close monitoring of Industry Partners using Key Performance Indicators, regular reviews, audits and customer feedback.

What discussions he has had with the Post Office Horizon Inquiry on the publication of evidence.

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 and Sir Wyn Williams and the Inquiry team have the right to receive full access to the information and witnesses they require in order to investigate what went wrong at the Post Office. The Inquiry is entirely independent. Within its published terms of reference, Sir Wyn has the power to decide what to look at and which evidence to make public.The Department for Business and Trade is the lead department on Post Office issues, so the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice has not engaged with the Inquiry on the publication of its evidence. It is important that the Government respect Sir Wyn’s independence, therefore it would not be appropriate for Government to comment further on the Inquiry.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of military service on sentencing decisions in criminal cases.

Sentencing decisions in individual cases are a matter for the independent judiciary, who take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors, in accordance with the relevant law. Sentencers also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, unless in the interests of justice not to do so. Sentencing guidelines help promote consistency and transparency in sentencing. Whilst the fact that someone is a veteran is not explicitly listed as a mitigating factor in statute nor in sentencing guidelines, judges have the flexibility to consider relevant factors in an individual case and could, for example, choose to take previous positive good character or exemplary conduct into account when determining a sentence, if considered appropriate to do so based on the full facts of the case. We do not hold data concerning the previous military service of those sentenced at the criminal courts and so are unable to make an assessment of sentencing outcomes for this cohort relative to non-veterans. More generally, prisoners are asked on entry into custody whether they have served in the armed forces, and responses are then checked against Ministry of Defence records.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of financial support available to customers experiencing water bill debt in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect on 01 April 2025. As part of this approach companies are required to publish their charges before each financial year in their Charges Scheme. Ofwat sets charging rules that companies must follow when developing their charging schemes and differences in charges for different services need to reflect differences in costs. Their licences also prohibit companies from setting charges which show undue discrimination or preference. Ofwat does not approve companies’ charges, but they have the powers to intervene if they are or could be breaching the rules or licence conditions. Water companies must also comply with Ofwat's Paying Fair principles which includes companies needing to make information about services and bills more understandable for all customers – and make it available in a way that best meets their needs. The Government has already announced that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. When money for investment is not spent, companies will be required to refund customers via lower water bills, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases. We understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing and we are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills; water companies must ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. Moreover, the Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported. We also expect all water companies to put appropriate support in place for customers struggling to pay their bills and to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them if they need help. All companies have measures in place such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. The Government has acted decisively by consulting on reforms to WaterSure – the statutory scheme which caps bills for low-income customers with necessary higher water usage and by introducing new and increased compensation for companies to pay customers in the event of unforeseen disruption to supply. Before the end of the year, the Government will publish a Water White Paper bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors and the environment and restore trust and accountability. Together with the building blocks the Government has already put in place, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce water bills for (a) individuals and (b) families in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 (PR24) came into effect on 01 April 2025. As part of this approach companies are required to publish their charges before each financial year in their Charges Scheme. Ofwat sets charging rules that companies must follow when developing their charging schemes and differences in charges for different services need to reflect differences in costs. Their licences also prohibit companies from setting charges which show undue discrimination or preference. Ofwat does not approve companies’ charges, but they have the powers to intervene if they are or could be breaching the rules or licence conditions. Water companies must also comply with Ofwat's Paying Fair principles which includes companies needing to make information about services and bills more understandable for all customers – and make it available in a way that best meets their needs. The Government has already announced that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. When money for investment is not spent, companies will be required to refund customers via lower water bills, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases. We understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing and we are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills; water companies must ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. Moreover, the Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported. We also expect all water companies to put appropriate support in place for customers struggling to pay their bills and to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them if they need help. All companies have measures in place such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. The Government has acted decisively by consulting on reforms to WaterSure – the statutory scheme which caps bills for low-income customers with necessary higher water usage and by introducing new and increased compensation for companies to pay customers in the event of unforeseen disruption to supply. Before the end of the year, the Government will publish a Water White Paper bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors and the environment and restore trust and accountability. Together with the building blocks the Government has already put in place, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation.

What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of unemployment for (a) younger and (b) older people in Surrey Heath constituency.

The information requested is published and available at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp The estimated unemployment levels can be found by selecting “Query data” on the NOMIS home page and selecting “Annual Population Survey/Labour Force Survey” and then “annual population survey (Dec 2004 to Jun 2025)” in the lists of data sources. The Geography will need to be set for the relevant Westminster constituency from the menu, and the Variable set to the desired age group from the “Unemployment rate” Category.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce and (b) prevent equipment theft in Surrey Heath constituency.

We will be implementing the Equipment Theft Act, making it harder for criminals to sell on stolen vehicles and equipment and assisting the police with identifying the owner.The Act’s secondary legislation will require forensic marking to be applied to new All-Terrain Vehicles and for the details to be registered on a property database, for forensic marking to be applied to all new GPS units for use in agricultural and commercial settings, and for the details to be registered on a property database. This provides an important additional tool to help police identify if an item is stolen and to return it to its rightful owner.Additionally, the Crime and Policing Bill introduces a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, which will help the police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.This financial year we have provided the first Home Office funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit. This funding will enable the Unit to continue to increase collaboration across all police forces, including Surrey Police, to target the serious organised crime groups involved in crimes like equipment theft from farms.

Whether his Department is taking steps to help simplify (a) paperwork and (b) accountancy processes required for Post Office Horizon IT compensation claims.

The Government has taken several steps to simplify the claims process across the Horizon redress schemes, ensuring that all postmasters have the support they need to set out their claims. We continue to work closely with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to explore ways to further improve claimants’ experiences.  Eligible claimants across the schemes can access interim payments once their claim has been accepted.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of interim compensation payments made to sub-postmasters affected by Horizon IT in Surrey.

The Government has taken several steps to simplify the claims process across the Horizon redress schemes, ensuring that all postmasters have the support they need to set out their claims. We continue to work closely with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to explore ways to further improve claimants’ experiences.  Eligible claimants across the schemes can access interim payments once their claim has been accepted.

What recent assessment has been made of the (a) condition and (b) maintenance standards of NHS hospital estates in Surrey.

National Health Service trusts are legally responsible for managing and maintaining their estates using operational capital allocations. As part of this, they regularly assess the physical condition of their estates.The NHS England Estates Related Information Collection survey collects data from trusts on the condition of their estates annually, including backlog maintenance, which is the projected cost of bringing all the buildings on each NHS site into acceptable condition. The latest data, from 2024/25, including from trusts in Surrey, is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2024-25Repairing and rebuilding our NHS estate is a vital part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan. The Government’s recently published 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy set out 10-year maintenance budgets for the public estate, confirming £6 billion per year for maintenance and repair of the NHS estate up to 2034/35.

Whether she has had recent discussions with mortgage lenders on later-life lending for pensioners with outstanding borrowing at the end of their mortgage term.

The pricing and availability of mortgages, including the extension of additional facilities post maturity or eligibility for suitable later life lending products, are commercial decisions for mortgage lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, the Government is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their business, including the provision of finance to different cohorts of borrowers. The UK benefits from a competitive later life lending market and there are various options available to later life borrowers, depending on their circumstances. Prospective borrowers should speak to a later life lending mortgage broker, who will be able to assist them in identifying any products for their circumstances. Where individuals are concerned about their ability to make their mortgage repayments, they should contact their lender to understand what options are available to them. There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers, the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments in order to provide tailored support.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the private parking sector.

The government is aware of concerns about poor practice from a number of parking operators and is determined to raise standards. In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The government has recently consulted on its proposals for this new code. The consultation closed on 26 September, and the government will respond in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of unemployment of autistic adults in the (a) South East and (b) Surrey Heath constituency on the economy.

The Department has not made an assessment of the potential economic impact of trends in unemployment among autistic adults in the South East or the Surrey Heath constituency. The 2025 publication by DWP on The employment of disabled people reported that, across the UK, 34.0% of disabled people with autism (as either main or secondary condition) aged 16-64 were in employment in 2024/25, compared to 55.3% for all non-disabled people. This data is based on the Annual Population Survey. Data for disabled people for the South East and Surrey Heath constituency is available from the above publication (tables LMS009 and LMS010). However, equivalent data for disabled people with autism is not readily available and would be unreliable due to the small number of responses to the survey for this group in these areas.

What recent assessment has been made of (a) waiting times for diagnostic tests and (b) their impact on patient outcomes in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to putting patients first and is aware of the impact that waiting for diagnostic tests and treatment has for patients. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care. Earlier access to diagnostic tests is key to supporting earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment if needed.Acute diagnostic services across the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust serve patients in the Surrey Heath constituency. Patients can also access diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, at the Milford Community Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and at the Godalming and Woking Community Hospital CDC at Woking. Both of these CDCs are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and offer a minimum of one diagnostic test in their extended hours.The Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity monthly collection (DM01) measures the current waiting times of patients still waiting for 15 key diagnostic tests or procedures at the end of the month. The DM01 publication includes data on the median amount of time a patient is waiting for a diagnostic test at the end of the month. Details on this collection are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/The following table sets out an estimate of the number and percentage of patients waiting for key diagnostic tests, as per DM01, and the median waiting time following initial consultation for an MRI test specifically as of September 2025, for the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, and for England as a whole:Name of NHS trustNumber waiting for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025Number and percentage waiting over six weeks for key diagnostic tests as of September 2025Median waiting time of those waiting for MRI as of September 2025Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust19,2141,493 (7.8%)1.3 weeksRoyal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust7,9722,591 (32.5%)1.6 weeksEngland1,717,121386,849 (22.5%)2.7 weeksNote: DM01 median waiting times do not match waiting times for diagnostic tests 'following initial consultation at NHS hospitals' exactly. The full definition of what is included in DM01 can be found in DM01 guidance on NHS England website.

What steps his Department is taking to support the wellbeing of service families living in Armed Forces accommodation in Surrey Heath constituency.

In April 2025 we announced the new Consumer Charter, part of the Defence Housing Strategy, designed to deliver tangible improvement for Defence housing and improve the lived experience for our Service personnel and families across the UK, including those in Surrey Heath. Progress against the seven Charter Commitments is well underway, with many already completed, and all due to complete by the end of December 2025 - the one-year anniversary of the Annington Deal. As commitments are met, we are communicating progress to Service families. We have also made progress on welfare provisions. In January 2025, our Armed Forces Welfare Support Policy was fully reviewed and updated to ensure welfare structures meet the needs of Service personnel and their families. Each Service has tailored its policies to address unique requirements, supported by the new Welfare HARDFACTS Annex, which provides comprehensive guidance on addressing emotional, medical, housing, financial, and legal concerns. The Tri-Service Welfare Support Agreement ensures collaboration across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force to deliver consistent and specialist support, including for those living in the Surrey Heath constituency.