Written questions by Pinkerton.

What recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on improving service levels in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

I have discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the chief executive of Royal Mail and its parent company, and they recognise the need to do more to meet service delivery targets.In October, Ofcom, the independent regulator of postal services, fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its quality of service targets and has told Royal Mail it must urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continuous improvement.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed airport expansions at (a) Farnborough, (b) Heathrow and (c) Gatwick on transport infrastructure in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department for Transport has made no assessment of the potential impact of proposed airport expansion at Farnborough Airport on transport infrastructure in Surrey and Surrey Heath constituency. Farnborough Airport Limited has submitted a planning application to Rushmoor Borough Council. The Department for Transport has no role to play in decision making relating to the planning application. For Heathrow, the Government recognises the vital role that surface access will play as part of any future expansion of Heathrow Airport. As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider the transport infrastructure required to support a third runway. This will include considering the impacts for travellers from different regions and the surrounding communities. While it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ANPS review at this stage, it will be the responsibility of any expansion promoter to set out a surface access strategy demonstrating how they will meet the requirements set out in the ANPS as part of any Development Consent Order (DCO) application. On 21 September 2025, the Transport Secretary approved Gatwick Airport’s application for expansion. Her decision letter, published on GOV.UK, sets out her considerations and the requirements of the planning consent; this includes improvements to highways infrastructure and Gatwick Airport’s commitments to promote the use of public transport.

What steps he is taking to expand (a) early intervention and (b) targeted mental health support for men at risk of suicide in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country, including in Surrey and the Surrey Heath constituency, for both men and women. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, improving assertive outreach, expanding talking therapies, and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the NHS App.The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, published in 2023, identifies eight priority groups, including middle-aged men and pregnant women and new mothers, for targeted and tailored support at a national level. The strategy also identifies key risk factors for suicide, providing an opportunity for effective early intervention.The purpose of the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England is to set out our aims to prevent suicide through action by working across the Government and other organisations. One of the key visions of the strategy is to reduce stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, so people feel able to seek help, including through the routes that work best for them. This includes raising awareness that no suicide is inevitable.NHS England published Staying safe from suicide: Best practice guidance for safety assessment, formulation and management to support the Government’s work to reduce suicide and improve mental health services. The guidance requires all mental health practitioners to align their practice to the latest evidence in suicide prevention and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide/Through the Men’s Health Strategy, we are launching a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to tackle male suicide and improve mental health literacy, by embedding health messaging into the matchday experience.We also announced the Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinders programme for middle-aged men. This program will invest up to £3.6 million over three years in areas of England where middle-aged men are at most risk taking their own lives and will tackle the barriers that they face in seeking support.

What steps her Department is taking to improve transparency for individuals using the Continuing Healthcare (a) assessment and (b) appeals process.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible and accountable for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) within their local area. Statutory guidance sets out that all arrangements should place the individual at the centre of the assessment and care-planning process. It also sets out how individuals can request a review on an eligibility decision. This includes setting out that if an individual disagrees with the outcome of a CHC assessment, they may apply to the ICB for a Local Resolution procedure. Where it has not been possible to resolve the matter through this procedure, the individual may apply to NHS England for an Independent Review of the decision. If the original decision is upheld and there is still a challenge, the individual can make a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.NHS England routinely publishes data on Local Resolution requests as part of their quarterly statistics which include CHC referral and eligibility rates, and which are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-chc-fnc/NHS England has also commissioned a free information and advice service for CHC which individuals and their families might find helpful if they are considering challenging a CHC eligibility decision.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of current (a) review and (b) appeal mechanisms for Continuing Healthcare decisions.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible and accountable for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) within their local area. Statutory guidance sets out that all arrangements should place the individual at the centre of the assessment and care-planning process. It also sets out how individuals can request a review on an eligibility decision. This includes setting out that if an individual disagrees with the outcome of a CHC assessment, they may apply to the ICB for a Local Resolution procedure. Where it has not been possible to resolve the matter through this procedure, the individual may apply to NHS England for an Independent Review of the decision. If the original decision is upheld and there is still a challenge, the individual can make a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.NHS England routinely publishes data on Local Resolution requests as part of their quarterly statistics which include CHC referral and eligibility rates, and which are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-chc-fnc/NHS England has also commissioned a free information and advice service for CHC which individuals and their families might find helpful if they are considering challenging a CHC eligibility decision.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of service charges on retirement home (a) residents and (b) sales in Surrey Heath constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.

What assessment he has made of the trends in the level of consistency of NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments across (a) England, (b) the South East and (c) Surrey Heath constituency.

Operational delivery of NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) with oversight from NHS England. The Department’s statutory guidance on CHC supports practitioners to undertake assessments and deliver CHC appropriately. Eligibility can vary across ICBs due to factors including, but not limited to, the age profile of the local population and health need variation between geographical regions. NHS England’s assurance regime promotes accurate assessment, equal access, and consistency within CHC delivery. Their assurance model is focused on reducing variation in the delivery of CHC services across the country. The NHS Performance and Assessment Framework for 2025/26 includes specific metrics to support NHS England to monitor CHC delivery and support improved patient experience. The NHS All Age Continuing Care Data Set, which was launched in April 2025, provides NHS England with regional, ICB, and sub-ICB-level data on CHC eligibility, referrals, and assessment outcomes to help monitor and improve CHC delivery.

What support is available to individuals who choose to escalate concerns about Continuing Healthcare decisions to external review bodies.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible and accountable for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) within their local area. Statutory guidance sets out that all arrangements should place the individual at the centre of the assessment and care-planning process. It also sets out how individuals can request a review on an eligibility decision. This includes setting out that if an individual disagrees with the outcome of a CHC assessment, they may apply to the ICB for a Local Resolution procedure. Where it has not been possible to resolve the matter through this procedure, the individual may apply to NHS England for an Independent Review of the decision. If the original decision is upheld and there is still a challenge, the individual can make a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.NHS England routinely publishes data on Local Resolution requests as part of their quarterly statistics which include CHC referral and eligibility rates, and which are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-chc-fnc/NHS England has also commissioned a free information and advice service for CHC which individuals and their families might find helpful if they are considering challenging a CHC eligibility decision.

If she will provide additional resource to Surrey Police to help process outstanding firearm and shotgun licence applications.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.The Government has taken action to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun licensing applications that are charged by police forces. On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. The extra income from fees will help police forces, including Surrey Police, to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years since 2015 and we intend to conduct more regular reviews of fees in the future.In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for Firearms Licensing is now publishing quarterly performance data for firearms licensing teams in all police forces. This includes a new performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months. We welcome this greater transparency and forces making improvements in performance, subject to ensuring public safety remains the priority and suitability checks are carried out properly.

What steps his Department is taking to improve integration between (a) NHS services and (b) social care provision in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to improving integration between health and social care services nationally and locally. Our vision for neighbourhood health will see local government and the National Health Service working more closely together, with a revitalised role for health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) and reform of the Better Care Fund (BCF).Through the BCF, around £9 billion is being invested in 2025/26 to enable NHS bodies and local authorities to pool budgets and deliver joined-up care. This includes setting shared goals to reduce delayed discharges, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, and support people to live independently at home.Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the impact of closer NHS-social care integration on reducing hospital discharge delays in Surrey Heath constituency, local HWBs are required to agree plans under the BCF framework to provide timely and coordinated support for people with complex needs. These plans prioritise effective discharge from hospital and recovery in the community.Starting in the financial year 2026/27, we will reform the BCF to provide a sharper focus on ensuring consistent joint NHS and local authority funding for those services that are essential for integrated health and social care, such as hospital discharge, intermediate care, rehabilitation and reablement. We will set out further details in due course.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of closer NHS–social care integration on reducing hospital discharge delays in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to improving integration between health and social care services nationally and locally. Our vision for neighbourhood health will see local government and the National Health Service working more closely together, with a revitalised role for health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) and reform of the Better Care Fund (BCF).Through the BCF, around £9 billion is being invested in 2025/26 to enable NHS bodies and local authorities to pool budgets and deliver joined-up care. This includes setting shared goals to reduce delayed discharges, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, and support people to live independently at home.Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the impact of closer NHS-social care integration on reducing hospital discharge delays in Surrey Heath constituency, local HWBs are required to agree plans under the BCF framework to provide timely and coordinated support for people with complex needs. These plans prioritise effective discharge from hospital and recovery in the community.Starting in the financial year 2026/27, we will reform the BCF to provide a sharper focus on ensuring consistent joint NHS and local authority funding for those services that are essential for integrated health and social care, such as hospital discharge, intermediate care, rehabilitation and reablement. We will set out further details in due course.

What assessment he has made of the clarity of guidance on the boundary between (a) NHS responsibilities and (b) local authority responsibilities for individuals with care and support needs.

Under Section 22 of the Care Act 2014, local authorities are generally prevented from meeting needs by providing services that the National Health Service must provide under the National Health Service Act 2006.Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the care and support needs of their population are met, by assessing needs, providing or arranging appropriate services, and shaping a sustainable care market. This is set out in section 5 of the Care Act 2014 and includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people and that offer quality and value for money.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning health services for their local population.

What fiscal steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce costs for commuters in Surrey Heath constituency.

On 5 December, the Government confirmed investment of over £3 billion for the rest of the Spending Review period to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This includes funding to extend the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027, ensuring that millions of people can access affordable bus fares and better opportunities all over the country. This investment also includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan. Surrey County Council has been allocated £33.6 million for 2026/27 to 2028/29. Local authorities will have the flexibility to use this funding to meet local needs, which could include introducing local fares schemes to further reduce the cost of bus travel. In respect of rail travel, the Chancellor and Transport Secretary have announced that regulated rail fares will be frozen for a year from March 2026, for the first time in 30 years. Over a billion journeys are going to be affected by this freeze with season tickets, anytime returns on commuter routes, and off-peak returns on longer-distance routes all subject to the freeze. Commuters in the Surrey Heath constituency could save over £200 on season tickets into London.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a UK-EU Customs Union Deal for economic growth.

We have not made an assessment as we have been clear there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement. We are focused on strengthening our relationship with the EU to make trade easier, help British businesses and support economic growth. At the first UK-EU Summit, the Prime Minister announced a deal with the EU which will deliver on what the British public voted for and which was welcomed by businesses.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her fiscal policies on low income households in Surrey Heath constituency.

HM Treasury’s ‘Impact on households’ publication, produced alongside the Budget 2025, shows that the impacts of this Government’s tax, welfare and public spending decisions from Autumn Budget 2024 onwards are progressive and benefit households in the lowest income deciles the most, on average.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the freeze on Income Tax thresholds on working people in Surrey Heath constituency.

The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028. This government is making fair and necessary choices on tax so it can deliver on the public's priorities, including by maintaining personal tax thresholds until April 2031. Everyone is being asked to contribute to support these goals, but the government is keeping the contribution as low as possible by pursuing a programme of reform to fix longstanding issues in the tax system - modernising it, and addressing unequal and unfair treatment, while ensuring the wealthiest contribute more. 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 she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support entrepreneurs in Surrey Heath constituency.

The government took steps at Budget 2025 to support founders and high-growth companies across the UK, as set out in the Entrepreneurship Prospectus, including on tax incentives, the procurement regime, R&D funding and expanding the role of the British Business Bank (BBB). This follows the BBB’s work to date supporting SMEs with its Start Up Loans programme. Between the scheme’s inception in 2012 and June 2025, 105 businesses in Surrey Heath have received loans, totaling £1,249,215 of funding.

What recent estimate he has made of the number of medically fit patients unable to be discharged from hospitals in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stockton West on 26 November 2025 to Question 93528.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the financial sustainability of the proposed West Surrey unitary authority.

As set out to the House on 28 October, we considered the two proposals for unitary local government received from Surrey councils on 9 May together with the responses to the consultation, representations and all other relevant information. In our judgement the proposal for East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council better meets the criteria set out in the invitation of 5 February 2025. In particular, we believe it performs better against the second criterion, as it is more likely to be financially sustainable. West Surrey Council will, subject to Parliament, comprise the current districts of Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley, and Woking. On 28 October, we also announced our commitment to repay in-principle £500 million of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27. This is a significant and unprecedented commitment given historic capital practices at the Council and the value for money case for acting to protect local and national taxpayers. This is a first tranche of repayment support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point. The Government remains committed to achieving the best value for money for the taxpayer in the rationalisation of Woking’s assets, and this process is likely to continue past vesting day in West Surrey. We are committed to supporting the new council with the rationalisation of Woking’s assets, whether through the provision of interim financial support and/or commercial support and expertise until this process is complete.

What steps his Department is taking to increase social care capacity to support the timely discharge of medically fit patients in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to tackling delayed discharges to ensure that people do not spend longer than necessary in hospital and to free up hospital beds. This year approximately £9 billion has been committed to the Better Care Fund (BCF) which requires integrated care boards and local authorities to make joint plans and pool budgets to deliver better joined-up care. This funding can be used flexibly to expand social care capacity, including home care and short-term reablement services.From 2026/27, we will reform the BCF to ensure consistent joint funding for services essential to integrated health and social care such as hospital discharge, intermediate care, rehabilitation, and reablement.