Al Pinkerton MP: written questions
283 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Higher Education: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle academic dishonesty arising from the use of generative AI in higher education.
Answer: Universities are independent and autonomous bodies responsible for decisions such as admissions, diversity of provision, course content, teaching and assessment. As such, they are responsible for designing their own policies regarding the use of artificia...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of environmental contamination caused by sewage discharges by water companies in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill will drive meaningful improv...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 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.
Answer: 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.U...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Minority GroupsMinistry of DefenceTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to support minority groups serving in the armed forces in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: 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, a...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that hospice care providers can (a) recruit and (b) retain skilled nurses in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: 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 h...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the training provided to mainstream school teachers for inclusive teaching practices towards pupils with special educational needs in Surrey Heath constituen
Answer: From September 2025 the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) will set out a minimum entitlement to training for new teachers and must be used by providers of Initial Teacher Training and those delivering provider-led early career t...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of incentives to landlords to improve the energy efficiency of residential properties.
Answer: Current regulations require privately rented homes in England and Wales are to meet a minimum standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band E, unless a valid exemption applies. Government will shortly consult on increasing minimum energy efficienc...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: EnergyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help foster collaboration between (a) housing associations and (b) local authorities to align their energy efficiency targets in the constr
Answer: The government intends to introduce future standards later this year through Building Regulations. These will raise the minimum energy efficiency of all new homes, including social housing. Homes built to the new standards will have very good building fab...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: Health Services and ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding to improve (a) services and (b) research for individuals affected by neurological conditions.
Answer: There are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions in England, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Condit...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Private Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing the energy efficiency of rental properties on carbon emissions in Surrey.
Answer: Delivering the Warm Homes Plan is central to the clean energy mission. Targeting decarbonisation of heat in buildings, including the rental sector, will account for around 75% of reduction in all building emissions as well as reducing demand. Government w...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFires: SurreyHome OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the fire service's preparedness to effectively (a) manage and (b) respond to forest fires in Surrey.
Answer: Fire and Rescue Services are operationally independent in England. Each Fire and Rescue Authority is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire) through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), while having regard to ...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of integrating hybrid-fuelled boilers with (a) electric air-source heat pumps and (b) smart technology to help decarbonise residential pr
Answer: Hybrid heat pumps, a heating system comprised of a fossil fuel boiler and a heat pump, have the potential to play an important role in heat decarbonisation over the coming years. The Government will continue to consider their potential and is consulting f...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHybrid Vehicles: HydrogenDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of hydrogen-hybrid vehicles on achieving the UK's net-zero emissions targets.
Answer: Hybrid powertrains in vehicles, including hydrogen-based hybrids, are a transitional technology that could support the decarbonisation of UK transport in certain cases. The Government is currently consulting on the role of hybrid cars in the transition to...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHeating: HydrogenDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the use of hydrogen for heating.
Answer: As set out last December, the Government will assess the latest evidence on costs, benefits and feasibility before consulting on the role of hydrogen in home heating later this year.
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Online Safety Act 2023 to help tackle fake news through (a) AI-generated content and (b) deepfakes.
Answer: The Government recognises the challenges that AI-generated content, including deepfakes, can pose to the online environment. The Online Safety Act puts new requirements on social media platforms to swiftly remove illegal misinformation and disinformation ...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCurriculum and Assessment ReviewDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening media literacy programmes in the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Answer: Political and media literacy are currently taught through the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4, which covers parliamentary democracy, the power of government, and how citizens and Parliament hold government to account. It also equ...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMedia and Politics: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the integration of (a) political and (b) media literacy into school curriculums.
Answer: Political and media literacy are currently taught through the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4, which covers parliamentary democracy, the power of government, and how citizens and Parliament hold government to account. It also equ...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: SurreyHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that fire services in Surrey can guarantee public safety during periods of insufficient staffing.
Answer: Firefighters play a vital role in keeping the public safe and we are grateful for the work undertaken by fire and rescue services across the country in support of their local communities.The Government is committed to ensuring fire and rescue services hav...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to provide (a) training and (b) other support to special educational needs coordinators in schools in Surrey.
Answer: All mainstream schools (including academies and free schools) must have a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). The SENCO must be a qualified teacher, or the headteacher, working at the school. SENCOs play a vital role in setting the direction f...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolution: SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the English Devolution White Paper on the delivery of public services in Surrey.
Answer: The White Paper we published before Christmas sets an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best. To deliver change, we need strong local leadership and empowered institution...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEducational Psychology: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that local councils can (a) recruit and (b) retain educational psychologists in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. Educational psycho...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support students with special educational needs who have left independent schools in Surrey Heath constituency following the application of VAT to private school fees.
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring every child has access to high-quality education. The government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or ...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: SafetyNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to support small businesses in Great Britain with the new General Product Safety Regulation requirements to maintain market access to Northern Ireland.
Answer: The updated GPSR largely formalises how businesses are already operating in the UK. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway to be compliant with the new Regulation to continue trading with the EU.On 3 December, t...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Surrey HeathDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable communities have access to broadband services in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The government recognises that access to the internet is increasingly essential for full participation in society and has taken steps to ensure households across the UK are able to access fast, reliable mobile and broadband services.More than 25 providers...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: SurreyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the GP appointment application process in Surrey.
Answer: The GP Contract requires all practices to offer patients an assessment of need, or signposting to an appropriate service, on the day they contact the practice, or the next day if they contact the practice in the afternoon. They will not be asked to phone ...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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