Al Pinkerton MP: written questions

1209 published records · newest first.

Written questions

  • Ultrasonics: Private SectorDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93609More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with regulatory bodies on the standards required of individuals providing ultrasound scans in non-NHS settings.

    Answer: The Department does not hold data on the prevalence and use of private ultrasound clinics. No recent discussions have taken place with regulatory bodies on the standards required of individuals providing ultrasound scans in non-National Health Service set...

    Answered 28 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Ultrasonics: Private SectorDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93608More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the (a) prevalence and (b) use of private ultrasound clinics.

    Answer: The Department does not hold data on the prevalence and use of private ultrasound clinics. No recent discussions have taken place with regulatory bodies on the standards required of individuals providing ultrasound scans in non-National Health Service set...

    Answered 28 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Ultrasonics: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93607More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of introducing further (a) professional or (b) regulatory requirements for those undertaking ultrasound scans.

    Answer: The Government has no plans to introduce further professional or regulatory requirements for those undertaking ultrasound scans. While there are no legal requirements for those carrying out ultrasound in the United Kingdom to hold specific professional qu...

    Answered 1 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Postal Services: SurreyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93542More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that the regulatory framework for the postal sector supports (a) reliable and (b) sustainable postal services in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.

    Answer: Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore recruitment and retention policies are for its management. The government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it i...

    Answered 27 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Royal Mail: SurreyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93539More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Royal Mail's workforce (a) recruitment and (b) retention rates in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore recruitment and retention policies are for its management. The government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s operational or commercial decisions.As the independent regulator for the postal sector, it i...

    Answered 27 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • ME/CFS: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93535More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing research funding for myalgic encephalomyelitis within NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: The Government is determined to accelerate progress in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), including through addressing barriers to research. We have outlined our approach to supporti...

    Answered 1 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • ME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93534More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) care and (b) support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: We published the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan on 22 July 2025. The plan focusses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debili...

    Answered 1 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • ME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93533More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure timely access to NHS services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: We published the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan on 22 July 2025. The plan focusses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debili...

    Answered 1 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • ME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93532More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing specialist support services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: We published the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan on 22 July 2025. The plan focusses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debili...

    Answered 1 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Dormice: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93211More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) protect dormice habitats in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: Defra is not currently monitoring hazel dormice habitats in the Surrey Heath constituency. Surrey’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species such as hazel dormice...

    Answered 27 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Heating: ElectricityDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93174More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to review their guidance on electricity usage assumptions for households with higher reliance on electric heating.

    Answer: The Department does not provide guidance on electricity usage assumptions for households with higher reliance on electric heating. However, the Quarterly Energy Prices bills estimates are presented for average domestic gas and electricity consumption leve...

    Answered 28 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Sheltered Housing: UtilitiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93173More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of guidance relating to typical household utility costs in (a) retirement and (b) sheltered accommodation in Surrey.

    Answer: The government has made no such assessment.

    Answered 5 Jan 2026

    Original Parliament record
  • Electricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93170More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of electricity costs for residents living in retirement housing in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: The Department closely follows electricity price trends on a regular basis. You can find the most reliable sources for these trends and further information on energy cost statistics here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/quarterly-energy-prices N...

    Answered 28 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Dental Services: Surrey HeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92867More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to allocate funding in the Autumn Budget 2025 to improve access to NHS dentistry for (a) children and (b) pensioners in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: NHS England have now published the Medium-Term Planning Framework, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29/National Health Service organis...

    Answered 5 Jan 2026

    Original Parliament record
  • Public Transport: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92865More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on ensuring that public transport infrastructure remains (a) resilient and (b) operational during winter 2025-26 in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: My officials hold regular meetings with Surrey County Council to discuss transport in Surrey. We will shortly announce the regional allocations for the majority of the transport funding announced in the Spending Review. We have informed Surrey County Coun...

    Answered 25 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Driving Tests: South EastDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92433More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many theory test certificates have expired before a learner was able to sit a practical driving test in the South East since 2020.

    Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is not able estimate the number of theory test certificates that have expired due to learners being unable to sit a practical driving test in the Southeast. Some learners who pass their theory test might deci...

    Answered 24 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Driving Tests: Hampshire and SurreyDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92428More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting period is between failing a driving test and being able to book a re-test at test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire.

    Answer: The average waiting time in weeks for a practical driving at test in October for test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire is shown below. Basingstoke – 9.5 weeksChertsey – 24 weeksFarnborough - 24 weeksGuildford - 24 weeksLee on Solent – 24 weeksMitch...

    Answered 24 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Driving Tests: Hampshire and SurreyDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92426More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical driving tests were cancelled due to examiner unavailability at test centres in (a) Surrey and (b) Hampshire since 2020.

    Answer: The attached Excel document shows the number of car practical driving tests cancelled since 2020 at driving test centres in Surrey and Hampshire, where the reason category recorded was, ‘examiner unavailable’. Please note, that tests that were subsequentl...

    Answered 26 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • NHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92343More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of commissioning research on the long-term health impact associated with occupational exposure to higher-risk medicines within the NHS wor

    Answer: The Department supports health and social care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR invites funding applications for research into any area of human health and care, including the long-term health effects o...

    Answered 25 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • NHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92342More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is being provided to NHS organisations to improve safety measures for staff involved in the (a) preparation or (b) administration of higher-risk medicines.

    Answer: All medicines, including higher-risk ones, are potentially hazardous and should be handled with care during preparation to avoid unnecessary exposure. National Health Service providers are required to follow health and safety legislation and COSHH regulat...

    Answered 11 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Hazardous Substances: Information SharingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92341More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to review how information on potentially hazardous medicinal products is shared across the NHS.

    Answer: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of medicines and medical devices, and it continually reviews product safety.When a safety issue is identified, the MHRA communicates with healthcare prof...

    Answered 11 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Motor Vehicles: SecurityHome OfficeTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91822More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the online sale of devices capable of compromising keyless vehicle security in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electro...

    Answered 26 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Cars: TheftHome OfficeTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91821More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the scale of keyless car theft enabled by signal-amplifying technology in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electro...

    Answered 26 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Railways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91820More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending contactless rail payment upgrades to stations in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: This Government wants to improve passenger experience and strive towards enhancing and improving ticketing. We are delivering on extensions to Pay As You Go (PAYG) with contactless ticketing to an additional 50 stations on the 14 December in the Southeast...

    Answered 25 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Driving: Surrey HeathDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91819More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with road safety organisations regarding measures to reduce serious incidents involving young drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

    Answer: Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately...

    Answered 19 Nov 2025

    Original Parliament record

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