Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the higher business rates multiplier for large premises on (a) the price of essential goods, (b) shop closures, (c) regional job losses, and (d) footfall in town centres in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government will introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants. The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of change in Agricultural Property Relief on farms in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. The Government published a tax information and impact note on 21 July 2025 and this is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including British citizens who studied medicine abroad in NHS specialty training prioritisation policies in Surrey Heath constituency.

British doctors who obtained their medical degree abroad need to meet the requirements of the General Medical Council, the independent regulator of the medical profession, to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. These doctors are then able to apply for jobs in the National Health Service on the same basis as UK medical graduates.As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, we will work across the Government to prioritise UK medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period for specialty training. We will set out further details in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) current and (b) projected workforce needs for specialist Parkinson’s (i) consultants and (ii) nurses in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department has made no specific assessment of the adequacy of the current or projected workforce needs for specialist Parkinson’s consultants or nurses in Surrey Heath constituency.Integrated care boards will plan, commission, and oversee the provision of local National Health Service services to meet their population’s needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of sewage discharges on (a) recreational swimming and (b) public access to (i) rivers and (ii) lakes in Surrey Heath constituency.

There are currently no bathing waters designated by Defra in the Surrey Heath constituency. The Environment Agency undertakes regular monitoring of the water quality in Surrey Heath constituency; the assessment and proposed actions are set out in The Thames River Basin Management Plan. Impacts from wastewater pollution are highlighted as a key pressure resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status. There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years, and these are subject to ongoing Environment Agency investigations. The Environment Agency is currently transforming its regulatory approach including developing a larger specialised workforce and delivering a step change in inspections of Thames Water's permitted sites and associated enforcement. Water company investment of over £10 billion will improve over 2,500 storm overflows, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health. Protected Sites Strategies will also help improve biodiversity in our coastal areas. Where a water body has been officially designated as a bathing water the Environment Agency will carry out regular testing of the water quality at each site, as well as inspecting for the presence of a range of pollutants. Information about water quality at each site is published online via the Swimfo service.

What steps his Department is taking to train more dementia specialist nurses at NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care.Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing social tariffs for water bills for (a) low-income households and (b) vulnerable communities in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government expects water companies to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. We are working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported. We welcome the commitment from companies to more than double the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through existing social tariffs – from 4% in 2020-25 to 9% by 2030.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of refund processing times by HMRC on (a) cash flow and (b) trading viability for small construction businesses in Surrey Heath constituency.

HMRC recognises the importance of tax repayments in supporting business cash flow and prioritises their processing.In 2024/25, £156.6 billion in repayments were issued, including £17.3 billion in Income Tax. For Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) claims, additional checks and increased volumes have extended processing times, with some cases taking longer than expected. HMRC is actively working to improve turnaround times through increased staffing and automation. HMRC’s correspondence service standard is to respond to 80% of priority post within 15 working days. Monthly performance against this standard is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports HMRC’s online services include a ‘Where’s my reply’ tool which provides estimated response times. The tool is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-hmrc HMRC is always looking at ways to improve customer experience. Their recently published transformation roadmap sets out how they will deliver improved services which will mean a better experience for taxpayers, agents, and businesses.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal receive (a) timely and (b) adequate compensation in Surrey Heath constituency.

As of 30 September 2025, approximately £1,229 million has been paid in total redress to over 9,100 claimants across all Horizon redress schemes. This represents a more than fivefold increase since July 2024, with more than 6,300 victims receiving compensation for the first time.We are taking a variety of measures to increase the pace of the delivery of redress across our schemes. This includes launching the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) and Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals process, committing to providing first offers on receipt of detailed claims within 40 working days.We continue to seek the views of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to ensure fairness and consider ways we can speed up redress.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of cancer diagnosis targets in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.

The National Health Service’s operational planning guidance for 2025/26 outlines the priorities for tackling cancer across England, including in Surrey. The aim of this is to reduce wait times for elective care. For 2025/26, systems across the NHS are expected to aim for the success measure of 80% of patients with suspected cancer either receiving a diagnosis or having cancer ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral.The following table shows the diagnostic performance of the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for August 2025:TrustDiagnostic performanceFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust72.2%Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust85.6%

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in non-badger species in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in non-badger species in Surrey Heath constituency specifically, but the latest ‘Year End Descriptive Epidemiology Report’ from APHA for calendar year 2024, which covers the South East of England (South East of England (Low Risk Area) year end report 2024) states that there were no incidents of TB reported in non-bovine species in 2024.

What discussions her Department has had with the DVLA on support for people who wish to appeal a penalty charge notice in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not issue penalty charge notices. These are mostly issued by local authorities in relation to parking offences or congestion charges. Anyone wishing to appeal a penalty charge notice should contact the issuing authority. Anyone who receives a penalty charge notice or other correspondence for a vehicle they are not responsible for should to contact the issuing authority. If there is a suspicion that the number plate may have been cloned, the DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence. The DVLA can also provide a replacement vehicle registration number to help victims of number plate cloning.

What steps his Department is taking to improve support for people with postural tachycardia syndrome in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to meet the care and support needs of people diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). Patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency would be covered by either the NHS Frimley ICB or the Surrey Heartlands ICB. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations and, in doing so, we expect them to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that meet their patients’ needs.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and waiting times down, including in Surrey Heath. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, including in Surrey Heath, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.

What steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis times for people with postural tachycardia syndrome in Surrey Heath constituency.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to meet the care and support needs of people diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). Patients living in the Surrey Heath constituency would be covered by either the NHS Frimley ICB or the Surrey Heartlands ICB. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations and, in doing so, we expect them to work with clinicians, service users, and patient groups to develop services and care pathways that meet their patients’ needs.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring waiting lists and waiting times down, including in Surrey Heath. The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard, that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, by March 2029.Additionally, the shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based consultants’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will allow specialists to focus on more complex cases of PoTS, including in Surrey Heath, enabling earlier identification and management, and improved patient outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency given that badger culling has not taken place within the county of Surrey.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending minimum EPC rating requirements to short-term holiday lets on small accommodation providers.

Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. We have sought views on whether short-term lets should be included in the scope of our changes, to help ensure a consistent standard across all private rented properties. We have engaged widely with stakeholders, including self-catering businesses, on our proposals. A government response will be published in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of consumer protections on (a) extended and (b) repeated electricity supply interruptions.

To help protect customers, Ofgem sets Quality-of-Service Guaranteed Standards that must be met by each DNO, these include supply restoration standards. DNOs are directly incentivised by Ofgem to reduce customer interruptions and to invest in and maintain infrastructure to guarantee minimum standards of service.

What steps his Department is taking to support Universal Credit claimants to repay overpayments resulting from administrative errors in Surrey Heath constituency.

DWP strives to set affordable, and sustainable repayment plans and encourages customers to make contact if they are unable to afford the proposed repayment rate. In most cases, deductions from the UC standard allowance are capped at 15%. When a customer makes contact due to financial hardship, the repayment rate may be reduced or, depending on the customer’s financial circumstances, a temporary suspension of repayment can be agreed. Where an individual considers that recovery is not appropriate given their circumstances, they should contact the Department. A request for a waiver can be made and we will consider a number of factors included in the department’s Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money guidance. Independent financial advice is also available from organisations such as National Debtline Free Debt Advice and Support | National Debtline and MoneyHelper https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that compensation arrangements for prolonged power outages are (a) fair, (b) transparent and (c) reflect the impact on affected households in Surrey Heath constituency.

All customers are entitled to compensation if distribution companies fail to meet Ofgem’s Quality-of-Service Guaranteed Standards. Ofgem clearly outlines the eligibility criteria for compensation on its website and will take action if companies do not meet their obligations in regard to delivering compensation. Ofgem regularly review and update their compensation arrangements. The most recent changes were made following the Storm Arwen Review which came into effect on 1 September 2023 and enable higher levels of compensation at more regular intervals.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing support to solar cooperatives in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local communities must be at the centre of local project development and directly benefit from clean energy projects. GBE, in support of the Local Power Plan, will enhance support for local and community energy by providing funding, capacity and capability support at all stages of project development, driving the growth of the local and community energy sector.