Written questions by Pinkerton.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 106008 on Security Action for Europe, if his Department will publish the economic modelling used to assess the potential economic benefits of participation in the SAFE initiative to the UK.

This information is commercially sensitive and is therefore not suitable for public release. This Government has been clear that we will only enter into agreements that serve the national interest and provide value for money for the taxpayer. In this case, the negotiations did not yield an agreement that met this standard. Nonetheless, this Government remains committed to pursuing cooperation with the EU and its Member States on defence and security, in line with our NATO First policy, to support our defence objectives and provide value for the UK taxpayer.

What steps his Department is taking to provide households with information on emergency preparedness in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published at GOV.UK/Prepare. The website provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of emergencies. Specific risk and preparedness advice aimed at Surrey residents can be found on the ‘Surrey Prepared’ pages of Surrey County Council’s website. The government continues to work with our local and national partners, including organisations from the voluntary, community and faith sectors, to highlight the importance of preparing for emergencies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 106008 on Security Action for Europe, if his Department will publish the economic modelling used to assess the potential economic benefits of participation in the SAFE initiative to the UK.

This information is commercially sensitive and is therefore not suitable for public release. This Government has been clear that we will only enter into agreements that serve the national interest and provide value for money for the taxpayer. In this case, the negotiations did not yield an agreement that met this standard. Nonetheless, this Government remains committed to pursuing cooperation with the EU and its Member States on defence and security, in line with our NATO First policy, to support our defence objectives and provide value for the UK taxpayer.

Whether he plans to provide additional funding for research into kidney disease within NHS services in Surrey.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and social care, including kidney disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Funding opportunities are openly published on the NIHR website, which is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/One can propose research topics to the NIHR at the following link: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topicIn the last five financial years between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the NIHR has spent £37,529,199 in direct research on kidney disease. Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, approximately 10,871 people participated in NIHR-supported kidney disease studies. In the same time period, 152 studies relating to kidney disease were supported through the NIHR Research Delivery Network, with 34 of these studies having recruitment sites in Surrey. There were 65 NIHR-funded research and career development awards focusing on kidney disease research started between 2020/21 and 2024/25, with a combined funding of approximately £44 million.One can find out more information about the work NIHR does to support and deliver research into kidney disease, including case studies, on the NIHR website at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/support-and-services/support-for-delivering-research/specialties-and-settings/specialties

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to make recycling (a) easier and (b) more consistent for households in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school. Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only). These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, and with the other collection and packaging reforms will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry. Defra has created a Change Network, to support local authorities and others to prepare for the upcoming household collection requirements, which take effect from 31 March 2026. Defra is also working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to provide guidance on best practice to help local authorities deliver services to all households. The Government remains committed to supporting councils in delivering the collection and packaging reforms. Between Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and Simpler Recycling, we have already invested over £1.4 billion in English local authorities to improve recycling collections, benefitting every household. We have guaranteed councils £1.1 billion income from pEPR this financial year, alongside having already invested over £340 million to support councils on weekly food collections.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce corridor care within NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet so patients can be treated with dignity. We recognise that the provision of clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas is unacceptable and we are committed to eradicating it from our NHS.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care, which will be published shortly.We are also introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.In December, NHS England published updated guidance on providing care in corridors to support trusts with making decisions on corridor care transparently, with clear governance and oversight to reduce impacts on patients and staff and to ensure the safety and dignity of patients.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities to (a) improve recycling rates and (b) reduce waste sent to (i) landfill and (ii) incineration in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school. Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only). These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, and with the other collection and packaging reforms will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry. The Environmental (England and Wales) Permitting Regulations 2016 include a permit condition for landfill and incineration operators, meaning they cannot accept separately collected paper, metal, glass or plastic for landfill or incineration unless it has gone through some form of treatment process first and is the best environmental outcome. This is in addition to existing permit measures that already prevent acceptance of recyclable material.

What assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of corridor care within NHS services in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet so patients can be treated with dignity. We recognise that the provision of clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas is unacceptable and we are committed to eradicating it from our NHS.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care, which will be published shortly.We are also introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.In December, NHS England published updated guidance on providing care in corridors to support trusts with making decisions on corridor care transparently, with clear governance and oversight to reduce impacts on patients and staff and to ensure the safety and dignity of patients.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of corridor care on patient (a) safety and (b) dignity in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet so patients can be treated with dignity. We recognise that the provision of clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas is unacceptable and we are committed to eradicating it from our NHS.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care, which will be published shortly.We are also introducing new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care, setting clear expectations for timely reviews and specialist input, further supporting our efforts to eliminate corridor care and improve patient experience.In December, NHS England published updated guidance on providing care in corridors to support trusts with making decisions on corridor care transparently, with clear governance and oversight to reduce impacts on patients and staff and to ensure the safety and dignity of patients.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has plans to improve public awareness and participation in recycling schemes.

Over the Christmas period, and continuing over the run up to April, Defra have been utilising a range of social media channels to promote new food waste recycling services. This has included location targeted campaigns alongside the use of influencers popular with our targeted audiences. Examples can be found at: (1835) Food Waste Recycling: Big Wins From Little Bins - YouTubeVox Pop on food waste recycling Minister Creagh Food waste InstagramDiscover the Magic of Food Waste Recycling Techniques | TikTokShef Phoenix (@shef_phoenix) | TikTokTraitors – yogurt pots Defra is also working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to provide guidance on best practice to help local authorities deliver services to all households. WRAP recently published communications guidance for local authority household food waste collections: https://www.wrap.ngo/taking-action/citizen-behaviour-change/recycle-now/campaign-assets/household-food-waste-collections-communications To support local authorities, we have provided transitional resource funding for food waste communications to support citizens in understanding how to make full use of the new services. In addition, PackUK will issue communications and explore behaviour change initiatives to promote the correct recycling and disposal of packaging waste. pEPR fees that producers pay will include a contribution to the costs of this work.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of free trade agreements on family businesses in Surrey.

We do not assess the direct effects of individual Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on specific types of businesses within specific counties, nor do we monitor the way they are utilised in such granular detail.However, we do publish assessments of the potential economic, sectoral, distributional and environmental impacts of our FTAs on GOV.UK. As these set out, FTAs have an important role to play in delivering economic growth in all sectors and all regions. Through FTAs, businesses can benefit from tariff reductions, improved market access, and enhanced protections in investment and digital trade.The department is working hand-in-hand with UK businesses to ensure firms have the tools and knowledge they need to seize these opportunities.

What steps she is taking through the tax system to support pensioners with the cost of living in Surrey Heath constituency.

We are committed to helping pensioners with the cost of living and ensuring financial security in retirement. The State Pension will remain the foundation of retirement income and, in line with the government’s commitment to the Triple Lock for the duration of this parliament, over 12 million pensioners benefit from a 4.8% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2026, worth up to £575 a year. This follows a substantial increase in 2025/26, when those on the full new State Pension received a £360 boost. The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will also increase by 4.8% in April 2026, from £227.10 to £238 a week for single pensioners and from £346.60 to £363.25 for couples, protecting the poorest pensioners. Pensioners also benefit from free eye tests, NHS prescriptions and bus passes, and some may qualify for means‑tested benefits such as Housing Benefit and Cold Weather Payments. To help with ongoing cost of living pressures, the government will remove around £150 on average of household energy bills across Great Britain from April 2026 and the government is expanding the Warm Home Discount to an additional 2.7 million households, meaning around 6 million low-income households will receive £150 support with their energy bills. Through our Warm Homes Plan we are supporting insulation and low carbon heating, upgrading millions of homes this Parliament. At the recent Budget we announced £1.5 billion in new funding to support households facing fuel poverty, on top of the £13.2 billion announced at Spending Review 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help protect hare populations in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The department has supported Surrey County Council to prepare their Local Nature Recovery Strategy, with publication expected shortly. It will set nature recovery priorities and map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species such as hares.Nationally, protection of the brown hare population is provided through hare coursing legislation which was brought in under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. Together with improved police tactics, intelligence and information sharing, they are reducing levels of hare coursing which will play a part in the recovery of the species.In addition, the Government’s recently published Animal Welfare Strategy contains a commitment to consider the introduction of a close season on shooting brown hares.

What steps she plans to take through the tax system to help reduce the number of disabled and sick people in poverty in Surrey Heath constituency.

Support for disabled people is predominantly provided through the welfare system, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which can be worth over £9,500 a year to assist with extra costs individuals may face. Focusing support through the welfare system ensures those who earn below the Personal Allowance tax threshold fully benefitThe Government is also investing £1 billion a year in employment support for disabled people by 2029-30. This will help disabled people enter and succeed in work, boosting their income.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending freezes on income tax and national insurance thresholds on working people in Surrey Heath constituency.

The government has published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) setting out the impact of maintaining income tax and equivalent National Insurance contributions thresholds.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to help tackle health inequalities affecting women in Surrey.

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer. Our reimagined National Health Service will tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, as well as give women, no matter who they are or where they come from, the means to engage with the NHS on their own terms.This financial year the Department has invested approximately £53 million in direct awards on research to support the health of women. This includes conditions that are unique to women, such as endometriosis, and health topics that are relevant to women such as violence and abuse.Significant progress has been made towards delivering the ambitions in the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, for example improving women and girls’ awareness and access to services as well as driving research to benefit women’s health, but we know there is more to do.That is why we are renewing the Women’s Health Strategy, to assess the progress that has been made so far and to continue progressing delivery.The renewed strategy will update on the delivery of the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy and set out how the Government is taking further steps to improve women’s health as we deliver the 10-Year Health Plan. It will also address gaps from the 2022 strategy and drive further change on enduring challenges such as creating a system that listens to women and tackling health inequalities.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on trends in the level of employment costs for businesses in Surrey.

The Government has published 29 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. This includes an assessment of regional impacts. An impact assessment on the 2026 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates will be published shortly, including an assessment of regional impacts.

What fiscal steps she is taking to encourage private sector investment in Surrey Heath constituency.

The government is focused on strengthening the UK economy long term by building resilient local economies and supporting household prosperity. Central to this is ensuring that places such as Surrey Heath are well placed to attract private sector investment. Our stable fiscal rules and competitive tax system enable firms to invest confidently. For example, we uphold key aspects of the corporate tax framework, including:a main rate of Corporation Tax at 25% – the lowest in the G7;a flexible and competitive regime for intangible assets;the Patent Box; andone of the most generous and competitive capital allowances regimes in the world. This government is also taking wider steps to strengthen the UK’s overall investment environment. We are reforming regulation to cut costs for businesses and regulate for growth, with measures announced last month expected to save businesses nearly £6bn by the end of the Parliament. This will free up funds for businesses to invest more in productivity, innovation and jobs.The government has increased the capacity of public financial institutions such as the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank by 40% to £137 billion this Parliament, using loans, equity and guarantees to support investment. This support for investment also means improving local infrastructure. Surrey will receive £38 million in Local Transport Grant funding to deliver transport improvements such as zero‑emission buses, upgraded cycleways, better accessibility and measures to tackle congestion which is a four‑fold increase in local transport funding in 2029‑30 compared with 2024‑25.By backing all regions of the UK through measures like these, the government is creating the conditions for private sector investment and high‑quality jobs in every part of the country, including Surrey Heath. This approach is already delivering results, at the first Regional Investment Summit in October, over £10 billion of investment commitments were announced, and nearly 1,000 high‑quality jobs are set to be created. Since coming into government, firms have committed over £340 billion of private investment into the UK.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector in Surrey Heath constituency.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic.To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget.From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of early intervention support for families where children display harmful or aggressive behaviour at home in Surrey Heath constituency.

The national rollout of Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection and Family Group Decision Making reforms is being delivered through the Families First Partnership (FFP) programme.The programme is backed by £2.4 billion in funding over the next three years, which is ringfenced for spend on prevention.Multi-disciplinary Family Help teams will prioritise supporting the whole family, wrapping support around them and intervening at the earliest opportunity to prevent challenges escalating, including for families where children display harmful or aggressive behaviour at home. Local partnerships should use population needs assessments to identify agencies, services and practitioners needed in their multi‑disciplinary teams.The FFP programme team in the department will work closely with all local authorities, including Surrey, to monitor progress and provide support. In 2025/26, Surrey local authority received £5.1 million of ringfenced funding for the delivery of FFP, and based on indicative allocations they will receive £10.1 million in 2026/27.