Al Pinkerton MP: written questions
1209 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Import Controls: EU CountriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with exporters on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements when trading with the European Union.
Answer: Defra has engaged closely with industry, including exporters, to understand the barriers faced when trading with the EU. Business groups broadly welcomed the announcement in May of the UK and EU’s commitment to work towards an SPS agreement. Defra will co...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of trading arrangements with the European Union on British agri-food exporters.
Answer: An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16% [Methodology Note: How Defra has estimated the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector - GOV.UK ].Defra comm...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Services: Surrey HeathDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for youth services in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services in helping young people live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. I have worked closely with Cabinet colleagues from over ten departments to develop ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strat...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: DisabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make education more inclusive of disabled children in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: We want to drive a consistent and inclusive approach to supporting all children and young people in every part of the country to achieve and thrive in education, through early identification of need, access to the right support at the right time, high qua...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordReading: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support families to read with children before they start (a) nursery and (b) school in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The government is investing £500 million in the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs, which will be available in every local authority by 2028. These hubs bring together services for families with children aged 0 to 19, with a particular focus on su...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that specialist speech and language therapies are available to children with education, health and care plans in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including speech and language therapy, for children and young people with special educational needs and disabil...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ProtectionDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve child protection services in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department is working closely with local authorities and their partners to improve multi-agency child protection and safeguarding. Officials meet regularly with Surrey County Council, including to discuss local child protection delivery.We are providi...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
Answer: This financial year, the department has invested £50 million into the adoption and special guardianship support fund. We have approved applications for nearly 14,000 children since April, for both therapy and specialist assessments. We continue to review ...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help increase levels of attainment in schools in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed.Through the government’s Plan for Change, the department is giving every child the best start in life and has set a milestone of a record proportion of children starting school ready t...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of (a) suspensions and (b) exclusions among pupils with SEND in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department trusts headteachers to use their professional judgement, based on the individual circumstances of the case, when issuing a sanction and in the most serious cases exclusion may be necessary. The department regularly analyses and publishes pu...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of vocational qualifications for post-16 learners in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Post-16 education and skills white paper, published on 20 October, set out our vision for a world-leading skills system which breaks down barriers to opportunity, meets student and employers’ needs; widens access to high-quality education and training...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRelationships and Sex Education: Surrey HeathDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve education on (a) sexual consent and (b) relationships in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The department published updated relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance in July 2025. It includes a focus on building healthy relationships skills from the start of primary school and sets out that secondary schools should cover the ro...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Vocational GuidanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support younger people into agricultural careers in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: Young farmers are essential to the long-term resilience of UK agriculture and DEFRA works closely with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, alongside other industry bodies, to understand the challenges facing new entrants and how best to suppo...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildminding: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to (a) affordable and (b) flexible childcare provision through childminders in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The department has implemented new flexibilities for child...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildminding: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the financial sustainability of childminding roles in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The department has implemented new flexibilities for child...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical Treatments: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of variations in the availability of wider support services for children undergoing NHS treatment in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with serious health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. We know that there is variation in the availability of support across the countr...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve consistency in NHS support for children with serious health needs in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with serious health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. We know that there is variation in the availability of support across the countr...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSports: SurreyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions her Department has had with sporting bodies on strengthening (a) welfare and (b) safeguarding arrangements for women in non-professional sport in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surre
Answer: The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport, including women and girls, is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: SurreyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to recovery support for women in grassroots sport in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport, including women and girls, is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDiesel: GeneratorsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of strengthening safety requirements for diesel generators located near residential buildings in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heat
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the regulator responsible for health and safety, including relevant safety requirements relating to electrical equipment. Government will continue to work closely with HSE to ensure that the highest safety standar...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Monoxide: PoisoningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support local authorities in (a) monitoring and (b) mitigating carbon monoxide risks in mixed-use residential areas in (a) Surrey and
Answer: The Government acknowledges the vital contributions made by fire and rescue services to a wide variety of incidents. All Fire and Rescue Authorities are required to publish Community Risk Management Plans (CRMPs) in line with the Fire and Rescue National ...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Monoxide: SurreyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure local health services are prepared to respond to incidents of mass carbon monoxide exposure in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer: All National Health Service organisations, including in Surrey, are required to prepare for, and respond to, a wide range of incidents or emergencies that could adversely affect the health of the population.In the event of an incident of mass carbon monox...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCarbon Monoxide: PoisoningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support the fire and rescue service to respond effectively to carbon monoxide incidents in (a) Surrey and (b)
Answer: The Government acknowledges the vital contributions made by fire and rescue services to a wide variety of incidents. All Fire and Rescue Authorities are required to publish Community Risk Management Plans (CRMPs) in line with the Fire and Rescue National ...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: SurreyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of regulatory measures to prevent repeated water supply failures during winter in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constitue
Answer: Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a supply of wholesome water under the Water Industry Act 1991 and associated water quality regulations. Additionally, the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 (SEMD) requires companies to ensure c...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: SurreyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with water companies on contingency planning for (a) prolonged water loss or (b) low pressure during winter in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey
Answer: The Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 (SEMD) requires water companies to ensure continuation of their water distribution functions during an emergency. Companies are required under the SEMD framework to plan for a wide range of disruptive sce...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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