Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of affording neurodiverse pupils frequent break periods for movement in Surrey Heath constituency.

The department believes schools are best placed to take these decisions locally, in consultation with parents, young people and the local authority, after a thorough assessment of the child or young person’s needs and drawing on wider professional advice, as appropriate.To support schools, the department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings and have commissioned evidence reviews from Newcastle University and University College London. The ‘What Works in SEND’ research programme is researching tools that schools can use to identify the needs of neurodivergent children.

Whether she has conducted an impact assessment of the reduction of stamp duty thresholds on homeowners in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the impact at individual constituency level.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) effective management and (b) oversight of fibre broadband rollout in Surrey Heath constituency.

Openreach is delivering a Project Gigabit contract across Surrey. This contract currently includes approximately 1,900 premises in the Surrey Heath constituency. All Project Gigabit contracts include criteria and obligations regarding time and budget against which suppliers’ performance is monitored. These include measures to manage effective build plans, milestones, risks and issues. Building Digital UK (BDUK) holds regular meetings with suppliers to discuss their progress. Each supplier’s performance is measured using monthly contractual reporting, reviewing the build progress and payment claims on each contract. Failure to deliver to a contract milestone on any build phase of a contract can result in the trigger of a rectification plan process and cessation of payments until the milestone is achieved. Beyond Project Gigabit, in areas where deployment is commercially viable we have created a competition-friendly environment to support the quick roll-out of gigabit technologies.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of support for people with Central Neurocytoma in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as central neurocytoma. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These include helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the Framework and, in February, published the annual England Rare Diseases Action Plan.Central neurocytoma is an example of a rare benign brain tumour. These types of brain tumours are managed through surgical intervention in most instances. Services for both adults and paediatric patients are commissioned and delivered through two national clinically developed service specifications. These are the NHS England Neurosurgery (Adults) specification, published in 2019, and the NHS England Paediatric Neurosurgery Services specification, published in 2013.For patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency aged over one year old, the pathway of care for treatment is through the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust service. Patients aged under one year old will be seen and treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that children receive adequate financial support during the school holidays in Surrey Heath constituency.

I refer the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to the answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 73205.

What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. The Government’s Better Care Fund provides support to unpaid carers, including short breaks and respite services.The Department regularly engages with local authorities, including Surrey County Council, on matters relating to unpaid carers and wider social care issues. According to data from NHS Digital, in 2023/24, Surrey County Council supported 760, or 19%, of unpaid carers through respite or other forms of carer support delivered to the cared-for person. We do not hold data to assess trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in the Surrey Heath constituency.Independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research suggests that high intensity unpaid care is associated with an increased likelihood of poorer outcomes, including loneliness and social isolation, when compared to people who do not provide unpaid care. The severity of these outcomes differs based on factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity.The Office for National Statistics has estimated, using the 2021 Census and adjusting for age, that the proportion of residents of the Surrey Heath Borough District providing unpaid care is slightly lower than in the Southeast region or England as a whole. This is especially true for the proportion of residents providing higher levels of unpaid care.

What recent assessment his Department has made of levels of access to respite care for unpaid carers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. The Government’s Better Care Fund provides support to unpaid carers, including short breaks and respite services.The Department regularly engages with local authorities, including Surrey County Council, on matters relating to unpaid carers and wider social care issues. According to data from NHS Digital, in 2023/24, Surrey County Council supported 760, or 19%, of unpaid carers through respite or other forms of carer support delivered to the cared-for person. We do not hold data to assess trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in the Surrey Heath constituency.Independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research suggests that high intensity unpaid care is associated with an increased likelihood of poorer outcomes, including loneliness and social isolation, when compared to people who do not provide unpaid care. The severity of these outcomes differs based on factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity.The Office for National Statistics has estimated, using the 2021 Census and adjusting for age, that the proportion of residents of the Surrey Heath Borough District providing unpaid care is slightly lower than in the Southeast region or England as a whole. This is especially true for the proportion of residents providing higher levels of unpaid care.

What recent discussions his Department has had with Surrey County Council on support for unpaid carers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local authorities have duties to support unpaid carers and are required to deliver sustainable, high-quality care and support services. The Government’s Better Care Fund provides support to unpaid carers, including short breaks and respite services.The Department regularly engages with local authorities, including Surrey County Council, on matters relating to unpaid carers and wider social care issues. According to data from NHS Digital, in 2023/24, Surrey County Council supported 760, or 19%, of unpaid carers through respite or other forms of carer support delivered to the cared-for person. We do not hold data to assess trends in the level of burnout among unpaid carers in the Surrey Heath constituency.Independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research suggests that high intensity unpaid care is associated with an increased likelihood of poorer outcomes, including loneliness and social isolation, when compared to people who do not provide unpaid care. The severity of these outcomes differs based on factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity.The Office for National Statistics has estimated, using the 2021 Census and adjusting for age, that the proportion of residents of the Surrey Heath Borough District providing unpaid care is slightly lower than in the Southeast region or England as a whole. This is especially true for the proportion of residents providing higher levels of unpaid care.

What steps his Department is taking to support parents who have experienced baby loss in Surrey Heath constituency.

Experiencing pregnancy or baby loss can be extremely difficult and traumatic. We are determined to make sure all bereaved parents, regardless of where they live, have access to compassionate care and support. We recognise that more support for parents is needed and are making steady improvements.Surrey Heath residents who lose a baby can access a midwifery bereavement service provided by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, available seven days a week.Specialist community perinatal and maternal mental health services, including the Forget Me Not service, are also available for people who require them. More information on this service is available at the following link:https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health-and-wellbeing/forget-me-not-service/All trusts in England are signed up to the National Bereavement Care Pathway. This pathway is designed to improve the quality and consistency of bereavement care for parents and families experiencing pregnancy or baby loss.In February 2024, the Department launched the Baby Loss Certificate service, which is a voluntary scheme to enable parents who have experienced any pre-24-week pregnancy loss to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their loss if they wish to do so.As of June 2025, Maternal Mental Health Services are now available in all areas of England. These services provide specialist psychological support for women with moderate/severe or complex mental health difficulties arising from birth trauma or baby loss.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mental health support available to parents who have experienced baby loss in Surrey Heath constituency.

Spending on specialist community perinatal mental health services continues to increase every year. The latest National Health Service figures show that integrated care boards spent £212 million in 2024/25, which is an increase of £18 million over the £194 million spent in 2023/24. We recognise that more support for parents is needed and are making steady improvements. Bereavement services operating seven days a week are being set up in every area in England to support women and families who experience pregnancy loss or neonatal death. Additionally, in February 2024, the Department launched the baby loss certificate service, which is a voluntary scheme to enable parents who have experienced any pre-24-week pregnancy loss to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their loss if they wish to do so.

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of creating an independent artificial intelligence regulator.

Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens.As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support people under Ukrainian Permission Extension schemes in Surrey Heath constituency.

We provide a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival to councils. Councils can use this funding flexibly to support households as best suits the local area, including supporting guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. All Ukrainian guests have access to public services, including benefits to support housing, healthcare, education, as well as other essential services. The Citizens Advice Bureau can advise on which benefits individuals may be eligible for and how to apply for those. Thank you payments have also been extended for sponsors/hosts under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. This allows sponsors/hosts to continue to support guests who wish to remain in sponsorship. We recently closed a competitive tender process for the delivery of a new programme to continue our English language and employment support for Ukrainians and Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders. This programme will provide support for up to 4,000 individuals. This builds on the success of the STEP Ukraine pilot which has supported over 13,000 Ukrainians, with an impressive 84% successfully completing the programme and 73% achieving a 100% in their English language test.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of dementia care services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Under the 10 Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for frailty and dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The standard operating procedures of the Surrey Heath Older Adults Mental Health Services, which includes memory clinics, have been reviewed and found to meet the requirements of facilitating appropriate referral routes and service inclusion criteria. Improvement work is also in progress to enhance dementia training and access to specialist support for staff on the Surrey and Borders Partnership National Health Service Foundation Trust’s older adult mental health ward dealing with dementia at the Meadows Unit.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for research into secondary breast cancer in Surrey Heath constituency.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).Cancer is one of the NIHR’s largest areas of spend at over £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is an important example of this. In February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launchedAdditionally, the Frimley Park Integrated Care System, located within the constituency mentioned, is part of the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network, and they play a key role in supporting the delivery of research, including secondary breast cancer.The level of funding for research generally depends on funding applications received. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including secondary breast cancer.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b) provide treatment for people with secondary breast cancer in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including secondary breast cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for all patients across England, including in the Surrey Heath constituency.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates all new licensed medicines and makes recommendations on whether they should be routinely funded by the NHS based on their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE. Since April 2018, NICE has recommended 24 of the 25 breast cancer medicines it has evaluated, and they are now available for the treatment of NHS patients.To assess the adequacy of existing treatment options for people with secondary breast cancer, NHS England funded an audit into primary and metastatic breast cancer. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed in an NHS setting, the audit brings together information to look at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done better. The audit was published on 12 September 2024, by the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre, and the NHS is now acting on the findings.To further support people with cancer, including people with secondary breast cancer in the Surrey Heath constituency, NHS England has committed to ensuring that every person diagnosed with cancer has access to personalised care. This includes needs assessments, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. Through the provision of information, personalised care empowers people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. This approach ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health, as well as any practical or financial concerns.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Hong Kong British National (Overseas) passport holders in Surrey Heath constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 58070 on 30 June 2025, Question UIN 23695 on 21 January 2025, and Question UIN 52871 on 4 June 2025.In Surrey Heath, BN(O)s benefit from the support of the South East Welcome Hub, which offers advice and guidance to new arrivals.Surrey County Council has supported BN(O)s to access English language course via the Welcome Programme.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for dementia care services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Under the 10 Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for frailty and dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The standard operating procedures of the Surrey Heath Older Adults Mental Health Services, which includes memory clinics, have been reviewed and found to meet the requirements of facilitating appropriate referral routes and service inclusion criteria. Improvement work is also in progress to enhance dementia training and access to specialist support for staff on the Surrey and Borders Partnership National Health Service Foundation Trust’s older adult mental health ward dealing with dementia at the Meadows Unit.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce street obstacles and (b) improve the accessibility of pavements for (i) blind and (ii) visually impaired people in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads, including the provision of fixed street furniture such as benches, bins and cycle racks. It is for local authorities to manage their roads in such as way as to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty.The Department’s guidance document Inclusive Mobility provides advice on designing accessible public realm and includes recommendations on placing street furniture in a way that does not create obstructions for disabled people.

Whether she plans to make a statement on the recommendations of the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group upon the reports publication.

The Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, chaired by Professor Karen Guldberg, brought together experts to make recommendations on how to best meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people within mainstream education settings.The Group has recently concluded its work and have shared their report and recommendations with ministers for consideration. The recommendations will inform the development of the Schools White Paper which will be published in the autumn.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of people rough sleeping in Surrey Heath constituency.

The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million in 2025/26 to a total of £1 billion to prevent rises in the number of households in temporary accommodation and to help prevent rough sleeping. This includes £185.6 million through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant. The allocations for this grant can be found on gov.uk here.The government’s forthcoming homelessness strategy will set out the steps to be taken by government, in partnerships with Mayors, local authorities, and the homelessness sector, to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.