Al Pinkerton MP: written questions
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Written questions
Personal Independence Payment: ApplicationsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Personal Independence Payment application process.
Answer: We understand that the current application process can feel outdated and challenging for some. The Health Transformation Programme is transforming the entire PIP service to improve the customer experience and efficiency of the service, build trust in our ...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: Digital TechnologyDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has assessed the potential merits of updating legislation to help ensure the vehicle registration system remains adequate and compatible with contemporary digital technology.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential for a self-funding regulatory model for number plate suppliers to increase the frequency of enforcement audits.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has held with the Home Office on a whole-system review of vehicle registration mark security to address organised crime.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: Ditigal TechnologyDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decentralised number plate supplier registration model on the effective operation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current fee structure for number plate supplier registration in providing resources for enforcement activity.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to strengthen the regulatory powers of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to tackle (a) number plate cloning and (b) the use of ghost plates.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current number plate supplier registration framework in providing sufficient audit capability to prevent misuse.
Answer: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes considera...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Overseas Territories: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the 2012 White Paper entitled The Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Resilience to ensure it reflect
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the first paragraph of the answer he received on 7 January in response to Question 101093.
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Overseas Territories: Departmental ResponsibilitiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the merits of appointing designated Ministerial leads in each Department to support the delivery of Government policy on the UK Overseas Terri
Answer: Each UK Government Department already has an assigned Minister responsible for their department's relationship with the Territories. These Ministers meet as a Ministerial Group, chaired by myself as the Minister for the Overseas Territories.
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Overseas TerritoriesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department’s lead strategic policy document is for the UK's relationship with the Overseas Territories.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the first paragraph of the answer he received on 7 January in response to Question 101093.
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time is for (a) reimbursement claims and (b) redundancy-related payments under the Access to Work scheme.
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the average processing time for (a) reimbursement (payment) claims.Please find the Official statistics on payments which are published annually and can be accessed here: Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (b) Redund...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work Programme: AppealsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether interim financial support is available to claimants while an Access to Work decision is under appeal.
Answer: The Access to Work Scheme provides grant funding and is not a benefit, so interim financial support is not available through the scheme while an appeal is progressing. We always encourage customers to speak to their employer about workplace adjustments in...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work Programme: Self-employed and Small BusinessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards on business continuity for self-employed people and small employers.
Answer: Demand for Access to Work (AtW) has been growing. The number of customers in receipt of payment continues to increase with 74,190 customers receiving a payment for provision in 2024/25. This is an increase of 10% compared with 2023/24. In 2024/5 Access to...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFraud: Surrey HeathHome OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure fraud offences affecting small businesses are properly investigated in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Fraud is a serious and growing threat to businesses, including small businesses, and the Government is committed to ensuring that fraud offences are properly investigated and prevented.The Government has taken steps to ensure that Fraud is reflected in lo...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordReport FraudHome OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Report Fraud.
Answer: The Home Office regularly reviews the performance of Report Fraud to ensure the service is delivering improved outcomes for victims and strengthening the national response to fraud. The new service offers better management information to track and monitor...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFraud: VictimsHome OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which local police forces engage directly with victims of fraud in cases involving physical premises and identifiable suspects.
Answer: Reports of fraud and cyber crime are made through Report Fraud, the new national fraud reporting service which became operational in December 2025. These reports are assessed centrally and disseminated to local police forces wherever there are viable line...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what protections are in place within the Child Maintenance Service to support parents and children experiencing financial abuse.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) takes the issue of domestic abuse extremely seriously and recognises that domestic abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional, or financial abuse, violent or threatening behaviour and coercive control. CMS ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are available to review child maintenance assessments where a paying parent is suspected of diverting income through (a) cash-based and (b) self-employed business activity.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) focuses on maximising compliance and identifying hidden earnings through measures such as data sharing with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service and HM Revenue and Customs: Information SharingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of data-sharing between the Child Maintenance Service and HM Revenue and Customs in detecting income manipulation.
Answer: As a principal part of the service design, the department uses data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and its own benefits data to assess 91% of Paying Parents earned income and benefit status, which are key parts of the maintenance calculation. We als...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to (a) identify and (b) investigate suspected under-declaration of income within the Child Maintenance Service.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) focuses on maximising compliance and identifying hidden earnings through measures such as data sharing with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordExercise: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that people are adequately supported to maintain an active lifestyle at each stage of life in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring people of all ages should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities to maintain an active lifestyle. The Government provides the majority of support for community sport throug...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Private Finance InitiativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of private finance initiatives on NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Operational health private finance initiatives (PFI) contracts are held by individual trusts. The last PFI contract was signed in 2015.As announced at the Autumn Budget, the Department is supporting the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation A...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDown's Syndrome: SportsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the role of sport in health outcomes for young people with Down's syndrome in Surrey.
Answer: No discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Culture, Media and Sport about young people with Down syndrome in Surrey and the role of sport in health outcomes.The UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical a...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSexual Offences: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of health-related funding for specialist sexual violence support services in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide crisis care, and medical and forensic assessment for people who have experienced sexual assault. NHS England’s funding for sexual assault and abuse services has increased year on year, with £57.632 million p...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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