Written questions by Pinkerton.

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) young and (b) older adults to access (i) employment opportunities and (ii) skills training in Surrey Heath constituency.

DWP currently offers employment support for eligible customers of all ages, through the network of Jobcentres across the UK, and through contracted employment programmes. The Government is reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them progress in their careers. This includes an enhanced focus on skills and careers advice. The Department of Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. The Chancellor has announced that every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work through a new Youth Guarantee. This new initiative will build upon existing employment support and sector-based work academies currently being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The scheme forms part of the government’s aim to provide targeted support for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. A dedicated offer for older jobseekers provides more tailored support for those affected by additional challenges such as out-of-date skills or qualifications or those who need help with CVs. In Surrey Heath, our Jobcentre teams work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally for customers of all ages. Support for younger customers includes Camberley Jobcentre co-locating our services within the local Youth Hub alongside provisions including mental health support, budgeting and financial support, digital and skills training as well as CV and careers guidance. Our Jobcentre Teams also have dedicated Work Coaches delivering Mid-Life MOT sessions and Pension awareness workshops for our 50+ customers. The team also work closely with providers such as Surrey Adult Learning to ensure customers of all ages, including those 50+, can access digital support for internet use, online job and CV support as well as digital tools for communication and productivity.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing Healthwatch organisations on the transparency of patient feedback in Surrey Heath constituency.

The abolition of Healthwatch England and the transfer of its functions, as well as the changes to Local Healthwatch, requires primary legislation. The timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and will happen when parliamentary time allows. A full Impact Assessment would be produced in line with HM Treasury's Green Book standards and published on the Government’s website when legislation is introduced in Parliament.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of maintaining the five year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for visa holders in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement. This will include an expansion of the Points-Based System that will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. However, through the expansion of the Points-Based System, individuals will also have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on contributions to the UK economy and society. I welcomed the opportunity to listen to the views of Members in the recent 8th September Westminster Hall Debate on settlement. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation.

What steps his Department is taking to provide mental health support to carers in Surrey Heath constituency.

We recognise people with mental health issues, including carers in Surrey Heath have been historically underserved. That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies, and giving patients better access to around-the-clock support directly through the NHS App.Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. To help local authorities fulfil their duties, including to unpaid carers, the 2025 Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing consumers with access to information on (a) historical and (b) real-time electricity supply interruptions in Surrey.

Access to real time information during power disruptions is essential for situational awareness at a national and local level. All Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) offer power outage information on their websites and have made significant improvements in customer communications, following the Storm Arwen review in 2022 with requirements to report on response times during outages. Customers can access information on any disruptions by contacting their network operator by dialling 105 or alternatively visiting: https://www.powercut105.com/findoperator. DNOs, per their license obligations, report their annual performance for customer interruptions to Ofgem each year. This information is published in Ofgem's RIIO-1 Electricity Distribution Annual Report.

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of solar power infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

Solar is at the heart of the Government’s clean energy mission, and we are taking steps to support rapid deployment. In green-belt areas like Surrey Heath, solar infrastructure is more likely to be found on rooftops than in fields. Permitted development rights mean that the vast majority of rooftop projects no longer require an application for planning permission. New building standards will ensure that most new houses will be built with solar panels. We recently conducted a call for evidence about solar canopies in car parks. £13.2bn has been allocated to the Warm Homes Plan, to help people with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements, such as rooftop solar.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including parking provision in the licensing criteria for Houses in Multiple Occupation.

My Department has made no such assessment. Section 67 of the Housing Act 2004 allows local authorities to impose conditions on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). We will keep the regulation of HMOs under review.

What steps his Department is taking to help create new jobs in the renewable energy sector in Surrey Heath constituency.

Meeting the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission is vital to enhancing our economic and energy security whilst driving economic growth across the country, including Surrey Heath. In 2023, there were up to 468,000 full time equivalent employees (FTEs) working either directly in the UK low carbon and renewable economy or indirectly in the wider supply chain. Government will be publishing its first Clean Energy Workforce Strategy in due course. This strategy will set out further actions to ensure that the workforce needed for clean energy delivery is in place, and that the jobs created across the country are high-quality, inclusive, and long-term. This will include regional analysis.

What steps his Department is taking to support individuals with endometriosis in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships and their participation in education and the workforce. In the Surrey Heath constituency, Frimley Park Hospital is a British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy-accredited endometriosis centre, with the capacity to manage severe cases of endometriosis. The centre is working towards becoming cross-site, supporting women at Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital, offering more specialist staff to support the service.In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its guideline on endometriosis which makes firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. The guideline is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73)www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73

If her Department will publish statistics on the incidence of number cloning in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East region.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of granting additional enforcement powers to authorities to tackle number plate cloning.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What steps his Department is taking to support people with endometriosis in the workplace in Surrey Heath constituency.

Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Backed by £240 million investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched last November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including women with endometriosis, 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 those that join up employment and health systems. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care and WorkWell. It is also recognised that employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. To build on this, the DWP and DHSC Joint Work & Health Directorate (JWHD) is facilitating “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to bring forward recommendations in Autumn 2025. In our March Green Paper, we set out our Pathways to Work Guarantee, backed by £1 billion a year of new additional funding by 2030. We will build towards a guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for all disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits. The 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, stated our intention to break down barriers to opportunity by delivering the holistic support that people need to access and thrive in employment by ensuring a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. The Plan sets out the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of health and care needs, including for disabled people. Furthermore, it outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle number plate cloning in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What steps her Department is taking to tackle the third-party selling of vehicle registration marks.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing support to people impacted by number plate cloning in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What steps her Department is taking to support awareness campaigns on violence against women and girls in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is treating is treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency. We have set out our unprecedented ambition to halve the prevalence of VAWG within a decade, using every lever available to us.We are going further than before to deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halve VAWG, underpinned by a new VAWG Strategy to be published as soon as possible. We are actively considering the contribution that communications campaigns can play and will work closely with stakeholders on this.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle undisclosed advertising on social media platforms.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the independent regulator for advertising in the UK and enforces the Advertising Codes. The Codes require that paid advertising content must be recognisable as such. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 also prohibits unfair commercial practices involving misleading actions or misleading omissions within advertisements. Influencers are required to disclose when they are advertising under both the CAP code and consumer law. The Influencer Marketing Code of Conduct, co-owned by the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Influencer Marketing Trade Body (IMBT), was launched in 2021 to improve standards in this area of advertising. The Code contains requirements for brands working with influencers, the agencies who represent them, and the influencers themselves, and includes a dedicated section on disclosure. An Influencer Marketing Working Group, established as part of the Government’s Online Advertising Taskforce, has helped provide new standards to be incorporated into the fourth iteration of the Code. This was launched in November 2024, and the group is working to encourage further take-up.

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (b) ATC Pirbright in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to supporting both the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and ATC Pirbright At ATC Pirbright, £7 million is being invested immediately to upgrade accommodation, with a further £400 million planned over the next seven years to enhance facilities. This will enable Pirbright to take on over 50% of the Army’s Regular Basic Training, following the closure of the Army Training Regiment Winchester next year. At RMAS, which trains all Army Officers and hosts several key Defence organisations, significant investment has also been made for its sporting facilities, including £3 million for two new 3G pitches that are available for any Army unit to use.

What steps her Department is taking to support public awareness campaigns aimed at improving cycling safety for women in Surrey Heath constituency.

Active Travel England is working with local authorities to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure which aims to help women feel safer when cycling. Design guidance for new infrastructure, such as that funded through the Active Travel Fund, requires that new schemes are accessible to all users, including women. This can include providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety, and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes. In February, we announced almost £300 million funding for active travel in 2024/25 and 2025/26. This can be used by local authorities to support the development of direct and safe cycling routes. Surrey Council has been awarded over £1.4 million in capital funding for 24/25 and over £4.4 million in revenue funding for 24/25 and capital funding for 25/26. Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022 introducing a hierarchy of road users, the department ran a THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the changes as they came into effect. This refreshed guidance placed particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders. The campaign specifically highlighted the new rules and educated both drivers and cyclists, ensuring that cyclists understood their rights and responsibilities while clarifying how drivers should behave around them. Currently, THINK! is running a “Pedestrian Crossing” radio advert via the Fillers service, which allows broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert raises awareness about safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders.

What steps his Department is taking to expand access to cadet groups for young people in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East.

This Government fully recognises the benefits of cadets, not just for young people who participate, but for the whole of society. Participation in the Cadet Forces has significant positive impacts on young people, increasing their performance at school, and improving their employment and career prospects. Independent research has shown the cost of cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of cadets change each year so that they are in education, training or employment. The recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the UK of 30% by 2030. Expanding the Cadet Forces, which provide skills and qualifications to young people from diverse backgrounds, and support economic growth, will benefit all areas of the UK, and work is already underway to establish where the 30% increase will be realised.