Written questions by Pinkerton.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

As set out to the House on 17 June, two proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey were received on 9 May. In accordance with the guidance provided to two-tier areas, it is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. Councils are responsible for working through the implications relating to local government reorganisation, including costs and merits. Following the Government’s consultation which closed on 5 August, the proposals for Surrey will be considered carefully against the published criteria, alongside the responses received and all other relevant information. It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process for unitarisation.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review (a) accountability and (b) oversight arrangements for Section 151 officers as part of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

There are no plans to review accountability and oversight arrangements for S151 officers as part of local government reorganisation in Surrey.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Surrey County Council in delivering sustainable growth.

Our number one mission is economic growth, and every area across the country has a vital contribution to make to this mission. In Surrey we are supporting this through inviting councils, including Surrey County Council, to come together and consider proposals for reorganisation and devolution which aim to improve service delivery, governance, and long-term economic resilience to support sustainable growth. Surrey will also benefit from the cross-cutting policies and solutions being delivered by the Industrial Strategy, to help ensure a pro-business environment across the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local councils in Surrey operate on a financially sustainable basis.

The Department works closely with local authorities and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. Any council that has concerns about its ability to set or maintain a balanced budget should approach the Department in the first instance, where we will treat all discussions in confidence and with respect. The Government accepts that Woking Borough Council holds significant unsupported debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety. We are committed to providing an initial tranche of financial support for debt repayment for Woking in 2026-27, ahead of the implementation of re-organisation in Surrey. Government-appointed Commissioners are in place in both Woking and Spelthorne, and have been engaged in the development of proposals for unitarisation. The 2025 Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities of their provisional multi-year allocations.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to publish a report on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey.

On 17 June, MHCLG launched a consultation on two proposals for unitary local government made by Surrey councils. That consultation closed on 5 August. A decision will now be made on which proposal, if any, to implement by assessing the proposals against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance accompanying the invitation, and having regard to all representations received to the consultation, and to all other relevant information available. In line with usual practice, a summary of the consultation responses will be published in due course.

What steps her Department has taken to ensure people diagnosed with Parkinson’s have regular access to a consultant following diagnosis in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is the responsibility of integrated care bards (ICBs) and local authorities to meet the care and support needs of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency would be covered by either the NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) or the Surrey Heartlands ICB. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations and, in doing so, we expect them to have regard to best practice guidance, such as that published by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE).NICE guideline 71, titled Parkinson’s disease in adults, makes several recommendations in relation to the provision of support and information to patients, which emphasise the importance of clear, tailored, and consistent communication throughout the course of the disease. Regular support from a Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist is also highlighted as a key intervention to provide ongoing support, medication advice, and a direct line for patients and their families.The NICE guideline also recommends timely referral to specialists, such as neurologists or geriatricians, for accurate diagnosis and regular expert review. The guideline mentioned is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71/Social care for people with Parkinson's disease is commissioned by local authority social services departments, or by ICBs if the care is deemed to be primarily health-related NHS Continuing Healthcare. The availability and extent of the services provided depends on assessment of the individual’s health condition and personal circumstances and needs.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of support available for children living in poverty in Surrey Heath constituency.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. It is unacceptable that 9.5% of children in Surrey Heath constituency are in relative poverty (before housing costs). The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in autumn that will deliver fully funded measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty. The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. As a significant downpayment ahead of Strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. We are also establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact), investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2 billion including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan. We’ve also committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority by April 2026 and creating up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028. Backed by £500m funding, this vital support will relieve pressure on parents and give half a million more children the very best start in life. And last month, we confirmed funding of £600m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years, ensuring that children and young people can continue to benefit from enriching experiences and nutritious meals during the school holidays. These commitments come on top of the existing action we have taken which includes expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) support and (b) information provided to people following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is the responsibility of integrated care bards (ICBs) and local authorities to meet the care and support needs of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency would be covered by either the NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) or the Surrey Heartlands ICB. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations and, in doing so, we expect them to have regard to best practice guidance, such as that published by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE).NICE guideline 71, titled Parkinson’s disease in adults, makes several recommendations in relation to the provision of support and information to patients, which emphasise the importance of clear, tailored, and consistent communication throughout the course of the disease. Regular support from a Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist is also highlighted as a key intervention to provide ongoing support, medication advice, and a direct line for patients and their families.The NICE guideline also recommends timely referral to specialists, such as neurologists or geriatricians, for accurate diagnosis and regular expert review. The guideline mentioned is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71/Social care for people with Parkinson's disease is commissioned by local authority social services departments, or by ICBs if the care is deemed to be primarily health-related NHS Continuing Healthcare. The availability and extent of the services provided depends on assessment of the individual’s health condition and personal circumstances and needs.

What steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis times for people suffering with Myeloma in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer as early and quickly as possible and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, ensuring more patients benefit from quicker access to the right investigations. This benefits cancer patients across the country, including in Surrey Heath.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with myeloma.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce child poverty in Surrey Heath constituency.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. It is unacceptable that 9.5% of children in Surrey Heath constituency are in relative poverty (before housing costs). The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in autumn that will deliver fully funded measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty. The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. As a significant downpayment ahead of Strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. We are also establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact), investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2 billion including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan. We’ve also committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority by April 2026 and creating up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028. Backed by £500m funding, this vital support will relieve pressure on parents and give half a million more children the very best start in life. And last month, we confirmed funding of £600m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years, ensuring that children and young people can continue to benefit from enriching experiences and nutritious meals during the school holidays. These commitments come on top of the existing action we have taken which includes expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in access to recycling centres on rates of fly-tipping in Surrey Heath constituency.

There has been no assessment of the potential impact of reductions in access to recycling centres on rates of fly-tipping in Surrey Heath constituency. Local authorities hold the responsibility for the operation and management of Household Waste Recycling Centres in their area. It is their duty to provide spaces for residents within their area to dispose of or recycle their waste responsibly.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing housing benefit for young people in Surrey Heath constituency.

Most young people in receipt of support with housing will receive this support through the Housing Element of Universal Credit. However, there are some groups of customers receiving their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, individuals living in supported housing or temporary accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Maintaining rent support through Housing Benefit for customers (including young people) in this type of housing has meant that they are not subject to the same restrictions that apply in general needs housing. This approach recognises the higher costs that can be associated with these types of housing. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit rules would apply to all of these groups and could result in Housing Benefit outstripping the provision provided by Universal Credit or undermining the work incentives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Health and Safety Executive’s proposed three-year transition to restrict certain rifle ammunition on (a) shooting sports and (b) associated supply chains in (i) Surrey Heath constituency and (ii) the South East region.

In 2021, Defra asked the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA) to prepare a restriction dossier for lead ammunition. The HSE and the EA considered the evidence of risk posed by lead in ammunition on human health and the environment, as well as the socioeconomic impact of introducing further restrictions. This included considering the impacts on target shooting sports and supply chains in Great Britain.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of care provided to people suffering from multiple myeloma in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to improving cancer care in all regions of England, including for people suffering from multiple myeloma in Surrey Heath constituency. The National Health Service has exceeded their pledge to deliver an extra two million appointments, having now delivered over three million more appointments as the first step to ensuring earlier and faster access to diagnosis and treatment.The National Cancer Plan, due for publication later this year, will include further details on how the NHS will improve care for cancer patients, including those with multiple myeloma in the Surrey Heath constituency. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care, including the design of services and the experience and outcomes for people with cancer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with shooting associations in (a) Surrey and (b) the South East on the potential implications of the Health and Safety Executive’s proposed three-year transition to restrict certain rifle ammunition.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory agency for UK REACH. As required by the UK REACH Regulations, the HSE rather than my Department was responsible for engaging with stakeholders via two public consultations in relation to their proposed UK REACH restriction relating to lead in ammunition.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of support available to people with Parkinson’s in Surrey Heath constituency.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides a contribution towards the extra costs that may arise from a long-term disability or health condition. Entitlement to PIP focuses on the functional impacts of a person’s health condition or disability on their daily life. It is assessed on the basis of needs arising and not on the condition itself, so is available to individuals when they meet the PIP qualifying criteria. PIP is non-contributory, non-means-tested and can be worth up to £9,747.40 a year, tax free. Receiving a qualifying rate of PIP can act as a ‘passport’ to extra money or higher amounts of other means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Housing Benefit. It can also provide access to council tax reductions and a Disabled Person's Railcard.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in (a) processing firearms licence applications and (b) renewals on shooting sports in (i) Surrey Heath constituency and (ii) the South East region.

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.The performance of forces with respect to firearms licensing is being monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner, and a new performance framework has been developed for firearms licensing teams. This is now being published online on a quarterly basis by the NPCC and provides greater transparency regarding force performance. This includes a performance benchmark for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate within four months for cases unless there are more complex factors to consider.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of staffing levels in firearms licensing units in Surrey.

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.The performance of forces with respect to firearms licensing is being monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner, and a new performance framework has been developed for firearms licensing teams. This is now being published online on a quarterly basis by the NPCC and provides greater transparency regarding force performance. This includes a performance benchmark for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate within four months for cases unless there are more complex factors to consider.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the timeliness of firearms licensing services in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East region.

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.The performance of forces with respect to firearms licensing is being monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner, and a new performance framework has been developed for firearms licensing teams. This is now being published online on a quarterly basis by the NPCC and provides greater transparency regarding force performance. This includes a performance benchmark for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate within four months for cases unless there are more complex factors to consider.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) improve the resilience of the electricity network and (b) reduce the frequency of power cuts in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government works closely with the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience of energy infrastructure. This includes works to reduce the vulnerability of networks and assets and ensure an effective response to actual or potentially disruptive incidents - taking into account future system changes and possible risks. Electricity Network Operators are directly incentivised by Ofgem to minimise customer interruptions and to invest in and maintain infrastructure resilience to guarantee minimum standards of service.