Written questions by Pinkerton.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Independent Press Standards Organisation for (a) supporting and (b) regulating news publications.

The Government is committed to protecting press freedom, which is essential to a strong and functioning democracy. In the UK, there exists an independent, self-regulatory system for the press, which is crucial to maintain press freedom. The Government therefore does not intervene in or oversee the work of IPSO and Impress.

Whether his Department has provided funding for the development of (a) more precise and (b) faster diagnostic methods for low grade brain tumours.

The Department recognises that brain cancer patients are often waiting too long for diagnosis. We are determined to change that, which is why we are developing a National Cancer Plan which will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care and the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including brain cancer. Although low-grade brain tumours are non-cancerous, they can have similar, serious symptoms and require surgery or radiotherapy to treat them. The Department welcomes submissions on brain tumours to the new online platform, Shaping the national cancer plan. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-planIn the five years between 2018/19 and 2022/23, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) directly invested £11.3 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours, including low grade brain tumours.  In addition, our wider investments in NIHR research infrastructure, which includes facilities, services, and the research workforce, are estimated to be £31.5 million, between 2018/19 and 2022/23, and have enabled 227 brain cancer research studies to take place in the same period. In total, NIHR investments have enabled 8,500 people to participate in potentially life-changing research in the National Health Service over this time.In September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure that the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including low grade brain tumours. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the debt-sharing arrangements for the proposed unitary authorities in Surrey.

On 5 February I wrote to leaders of all councils in Surrey to formally invite proposals for reorganisation. It is for the councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area. I have asked councils in Surrey to submit any proposal to Government by 9 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28103 on Flats: Fire Prevention, what examples of alternative evidence should mortgage lenders consider when an EWS1 form has been incorrectly issued.

10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found hereEWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.

How the (a) 10-Year Health Plan and (b) Cancer Plan will ensure that the specific needs of people living with low grade brain tumours are properly recognised and supported.

The Department recognises that brain cancer patients are often waiting too long for diagnosis. We are determined to change that, which is why we are developing a National Cancer Plan which will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care and the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including brain cancer. Although low-grade brain tumours are non-cancerous, they can have similar, serious symptoms and require surgery or radiotherapy to treat them. The Department welcomes submissions on brain tumours to the new online platform, Shaping the national cancer plan. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-planIn the five years between 2018/19 and 2022/23, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) directly invested £11.3 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours, including low grade brain tumours.  In addition, our wider investments in NIHR research infrastructure, which includes facilities, services, and the research workforce, are estimated to be £31.5 million, between 2018/19 and 2022/23, and have enabled 227 brain cancer research studies to take place in the same period. In total, NIHR investments have enabled 8,500 people to participate in potentially life-changing research in the National Health Service over this time.In September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure that the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including low grade brain tumours. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total cost of recommissioning incorrect External Wall Review (EWS1) forms for residential buildings included in the Building Remediation Fund.

10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found hereEWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of The Independent Monitor of the Press for (a) supporting and (b) regulating news publications.

The Government is committed to protecting press freedom, which is essential to a strong and functioning democracy. In the UK, there exists an independent, self-regulatory system for the press, which is crucial to maintain press freedom. The Government therefore does not intervene in or oversee the work of IPSO and Impress.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of school measures to tackle (a) threatening behaviour and (b) bullying via smartphones in Surrey Heath constituency.

​All schools are required, by law, to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. This should be communicated to all pupils, school staff and parents.In addition, the government’s ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance supports schools on how to develop, implement and maintain a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones throughout the school day including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime. Headteachers are responsible for implementation of guidance within their schools.Whilst the department has not directly assessed these measures in Surrey Health constituency, the department’s National Behaviour Survey (NBS) reports can be used to monitor national perceptions of behaviour in schools over time. These can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-behaviour-survey-reports. The NBS asks panels of pupils, parents, school leaders and teachers about their perceptions on a range of topics relating to pupil behaviour, including frequency, impacts and bullying, and responses to misbehaviour.

What steps he has taken to help (a) older and (b) digitally illiterate demographics in using online NHS booking services for GP appointments in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is for local National Health Service organisations to adopt digital health technologies and services which best meet the needs of their local populations. However, digital health tools should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. The GP Contract is also clear that patients should always have the option of visiting their practice in person. NHS England successfully ran a number of programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include:the Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online;the Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure more people have the digital skills, motivation and means to access health information and services online; andthe NHS App Spoken Word Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting NHS digital health products and services in languages other than English.NHS England has also published a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All digital programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the level of car parking charges for staff in NHS hospitals in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of reducing the level of car-parking charges for staff in National Health Service hospitals in the Surrey Heath constituency.NHS trusts are expected to follow the principles set out in the NHS Car Parking Guidance. The guidance makes clear that charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the area.All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment.

What steps his Department is taking to support hospitals affected by RAAC in the South East.

We are committed to removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from the National Health Service estate as a priority.The NHS has been surveying hospital sites to identify the presence of RAAC since 2019. Once the presence of RAAC is confirmed at a hospital site, the trust joins NHS England’s national RAAC programme, which has delivered mitigation, safety, and eradication works across all hospital sites with confirmed RAAC to keep facilities safe and open, and is working to remove RAAC fully from the NHS estate. There are nine hospital sites in the South East currently in the NHS RAAC programme, and one hospital site in the South East, specifically Medway Maritime Hospital, has completely eradicated RAAC.We confirmed £440 million specifically for RAAC mitigation and eradication in 2025/26 as part of NHS capital guidance. National RAAC funding is allocated annually based on NHS trust plans and delivery progress, and funds mitigation works at the seven hospitals built wholly or primarily from RAAC.We are working at pace to ensure that the seven hospitals built wholly or primarily from RAAC in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) will be replaced as quickly as possible, including Frimley Park Hospital in the South East, to protect patient and staff safety. Construction for all RAAC replacement schemes is planned to commence and substantially deliver between 2025 and 2030 as part of Wave 1 of the NHP.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on levels of air pollution in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow. The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

What steps he is taking to ensure that hospitals can (a) recruit and (b) retain midwives in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to tackling the retention and recruitment challenges that face the National Health Service. Bringing in the staff we need will take time, but this is an absolute priority for the Government. NHS England is leading a range of initiatives to boost retention of existing staff and ensure that the NHS remains an attractive career choice for new recruits. This includes building a compassionate and inclusive culture, supporting staff wellbeing, and promoting flexible working opportunities. Targeted retention work for midwives is being undertaken by NHS England, led by the Chief Nursing Officer. This work contains a range of measures, including the creation of a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool, mentoring schemes, strengthened advice and support on pensions, and embedded flexible retirement options. NHS England has also invested in unit-based retention leads which, alongside investment in workforce capacity, has seen a reduction in vacancy, leaver, and turnover rates. The Frimley Health midwifery workforce, which includes the Surrey Heath area, now has in place a fully resourced midwifery workforce. This follows five-years of work, led by the trust, on recruitment and retention, in addition to the ongoing work by NHS England.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers.

Currently, the fire engineering profession is undefined and not regulated in law. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry report makes a number of recommendations in respect of fire engineering sector including the recommendation that the profession be recognised and protected by law and that an independent body be established to regulate the profession, define the standards required for membership, maintain a register of members and regulate their conduct.Following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Report, the Department is reviewing the findings and recommendations in relation to the fire engineering sector. No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that residents are protected from incorrectly completed EWS1 forms when trying to (a) sell, (b) remortgage and (c) purchase properties in residential buildings.

EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement, and the Department does not intend to regulate their issuance. The use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria.The absence of a correctly completed EWS1 should not be a blocker to mortgage lending, where a leaseholder can provide alternative evidence of the safety of their building or that the building is in a remediation scheme or that the leaseholder qualifies for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.We are working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the lending industry to ensure the market continues to function for leaseholders in properties with building safety issues, and those looking to purchase properties with building safety issues.Leaseholders should contact the building owner or person responsible for fire safety if they have concerns about the fire safety of their building.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a central governance board to regulate the issuance of EWS1 forms for residential buildings.

EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement, and the Department does not intend to regulate their issuance. The use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria.The absence of a correctly completed EWS1 should not be a blocker to mortgage lending, where a leaseholder can provide alternative evidence of the safety of their building or that the building is in a remediation scheme or that the leaseholder qualifies for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.We are working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the lending industry to ensure the market continues to function for leaseholders in properties with building safety issues, and those looking to purchase properties with building safety issues.Leaseholders should contact the building owner or person responsible for fire safety if they have concerns about the fire safety of their building.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that hospice care providers can (a) recruit and (b) retain skilled nurses in Surrey Heath constituency.

Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. As independent organisations, charitable hospices are responsible for their own recruitment and employment terms.The NHS has been facing chronic workforce shortages for years, and we have to be honest that bringing in the staff we need will take time. We understand that this will also impact the voluntary sector, including hospices, like those in the Surrey Heath area.We are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time. The Government will make sure the NHS has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it, including at the end of life.We will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) recruiting new driving instructors and (b) opening new test centres in the Surrey Heath constituency.

On the 18 December, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) set out further plans to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. These steps include recruiting 450 driving examiners (DEs). Full details of these steps can be found on GOV.UK. As part of driving test centres (DTC) that serve the Surrey Heath constituency, Guildford DTC and Farnborough DTC form a recruitment cluster that newer driving examiners (DE) move between. As part of recent recruitment, two new DEs were recruited last year at Guildford DTC. DVSA has also made offers to two more potential new entrants from its most recent recruitment campaign and is currently planning for the next campaign beginning later this year. The DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient. It currently has no plans for any additional driving test centres.

What steps he has taken to support minority groups serving in the armed forces in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Ministry of Defence’s work to improve diversity and inclusion within the Armed Forces is conducted holistically and is not targeted within specific constituencies. In a competitive age, our advantage derives from the talent and skills of our people, and our Armed Forces are at their best when they are diverse. Defence is dedicated to recruiting and retaining the best talent, drawn from the broadest diversity of thought, skills, and background, to safeguard the security, stability and prosperity of our nation and better represent the nation we serve. We are committed to making the step changes required to create a more inclusive environment, enabling everyone, irrespective of background, to deliver our Defence outputs, enhance our operational effectiveness and better defend and represent the nation we serve. The Armed Forces continue to work hard to broaden the diversity of our workforce through actively engaging with our employees to drive an inclusive culture at work, attract the best talent and better reflect the society we serve. We do not tolerate abuse, bullying or discrimination of any kind and encourage any personnel who believe they have experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour to report it.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of installing solar panels on the roofs of (a) car parks, (b) warehouses (c) and council-owned buildings in Surrey.

The Government will assess the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor carparks over a certain size through a call for evidence this year. New standards will be introduced this year which will amend the energy efficiency standards in the Building Regulations in England. This will ensure all new homes and buildings, including warehouses and council-owned buildings, in England are zero-carbon ready. Further details about how the Government will increase the deployment of solar panels will be set out in the forthcoming Solar Roadmap.