Al Pinkerton MP: written questions
1209 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Youth Services: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106003More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to youth activities for young people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This Government recently published ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’, a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. This is backed by over £500...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil Society: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106002More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the (a) voluntary, (b) community and (c) social enterprise sector has access to adequate funding in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This government recognises the vital role played by voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in supporting people right across the country. As captured in the Civil Society Covenant, these organisations are integral to our vision f...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105998More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of regulatory alignment measures with the European Union on economic growth.
Answer: We have made a choice to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so in our national interest. For example, to unlock the SPS and carbon pricing agreements, which will add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040. Where we agree to dynamica...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordProfessions: QualificationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the EU on employment levels in regulated professions.
Answer: We remain committed to improving the recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Highly skilled professionals from the EU make a valuable contribution to the UK’s regulated sectors and vice versa. We continually assess the benefits that mutual...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105994More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of a UK–EU youth mobility scheme on labour supply in sectors reliant on temporary or seasonal workers.
Answer: Under a Youth Experience Scheme, young Brits and EU citizens will be given the opportunity to travel and work abroad, providing a highly valuable form of cultural exchange. My Department is committed towards the inclusion of as many sectors as possible to...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesTreasuryTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105993More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling her Department has done on the potential impact of a UK–EU youth mobility scheme on (a) employment levels, (b) productivity, and (c) economic growth.
Answer: The Government has agreed that it will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU, which will be good for the economy, good for growth and good for business.The impact of a youth experience scheme will be appropriatel...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the role a youth mobility scheme could play in supporting UK–EU trade in services.
Answer: We have not made such a precise assessment but since we are still working towards concluding negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme by the next EU-UK summit, I cannot provide a running commentary on ongoing negotiations. We will update the House in t...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: EU CountriesHome OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to (a) businesses and (b) travellers arising from delays associated with the entry and exit system into the European Union.
Answer: The Entry / Exit System (EES) is an EU system; we are working with the French authorities and UK operators at St Pancras, Folkestone, and Port of Dover to minimise disruption.There has been no disruption at the UK border related to EES. The system is bein...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration ControlsHome OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the level of impact of disruption to entry and exit systems at UK borders during the Christmas period on the economy.
Answer: The Entry / Exit System (EES) is an EU system; we are working with the French authorities and UK operators at St Pancras, Folkestone, and Port of Dover to minimise disruption.There has been no disruption at the UK border related to EES. The system is bein...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordService Industries: UK Trade with EUTreasuryTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105984More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling her Department has done of the potential impact of deeper UK–EU regulatory cooperation on services trade and employment.
Answer: The Government is committed to providing appropriate analysis of any agreement made with the EU, but we will not be able to provide a full assessment of the impacts whilst detailed negotiations are ongoing. We have made a choice to align in some areas whe...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: EntertainersHome OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of streamlining visa arrangements for musicians, performers, and other cultural professionals working between the UK and the EU.
Answer: The UK immigration system is generous in its provisions for musicians, performers and other cultural professionals, with different pathways for non-visa nationals (such as EU/EEA nationals) in the creative sector to come to the UK without requiring a visa...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCulture and MusiciansDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the economic contribution of (a) touring musicians and (b) cultural professionals to the UK economy.
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises that touring musicians and cultural professionals are essential to the United Kingdom’s economic vitality. The Department assesses the economic contribution of these sectors through the DCMS Se...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordProfessions: QualificationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic merits of mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and the EU.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 93339 on 27 November 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work Programme: Surrey HeathDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting times for a decision on Access to Work claims in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Department is committed to reducing the Access to Work waiting times. We have increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practices. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioriti...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of employment support for people with learning disabilities in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: For people who need specialist intensive support, DWP have agreed to fund Surrey County Council up to £9.8m to deliver the national Connect to Work programme across Surrey to around 2500 people to March 2030. This voluntary Supported Employment programme ...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLearning Disability: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what oversight arrangements are in place to safeguard people with learning disabilities in local care settings in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: In the statutory guidance of the Care Act 2014, it states that local authorities must ensure that the services they commission are safe, effective, and of high quality.Each integrated care board must have an executive lead for learning disability and auti...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLearning Disability: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) quality and (b) accessibility of health and care services for people with learning disabilities in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Significant action is underway to improve the quality and accessibility of health and care services for people with a learning disability at a local level, helping to deliver the shift from treatment to prevention, outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan, whi...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consultation he has undertaken with relevant stakeholders on developing PAS 9980.
Answer: The Government has sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are requi...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of PAS 9980 on building safety in residential buildings.
Answer: The Government has sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are requi...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to support remediation in cases where leaseholders fall outside the scope of the Building Safety Act 2022.
Answer: Government is not currently considering expanding the leaseholder protections further but is committed to reviewing how to better protect leaseholders from costs. There is a range of support in place for those leaseholders whose lease does not qualify for...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitics and Government: DisinformationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives of the European Union on the use of disinformation by states to interfere in (a) political processes and (
Answer: In her speech on 9 December 2025 marking the centenary of the Locarno Treaty, the Foreign Secretary spoke at length about the rising threat from information warfare, designed to create division and undermine democracy in societies like ours. We are workin...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal ProfessionMinistry of JusticeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support the growth of the legal services sector.
Answer: The UK legal sector is a national asset and an engine of economic growth. As highlighted in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, in 2024 alone, the UK legal sector contributed £42.6 billion to the economy and posted a trade surplus of £7.4 billion...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEU Countries: Legal ProfessionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of current visa arrangements for UK law graduates seeking (a) training contracts or (b) early-career experience in EU member st
Answer: UK nationals travelling for the purposes of taking up work or providing a service in a Member State will need a visa and/or work permit to work in most EU countries. While the visa policy of EU Member States is a matter for those countries, the Government...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLugano Convention: Business and Legal ProfessionMinistry of JusticeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of UK accession to the Lugano Convention for businesses and legal professionals.
Answer: The UK applied to re-join the 2007 Lugano Convention in April 2020. This application remains pending as the European Commission stated in a Note Verbale in June 2021 that it was not in a position to consent to UK accession.The UK Government remains commit...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Profession: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving market access for UK legal services in the European Union through the 2026 review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answer: We recognise the merits of improving market access across the board, which is why we remain committed to improving market access for UK service providers, including legal services. The EU is the most economically significant destination for UK legal servi...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →