Written questions by Pinkerton.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure reliable broadband services in hard to reach areas of Surrey Heath constituency.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.As part of Project Gigabit, Openreach is delivering a contract to extend coverage to hard-to-reach areas of Surrey. This contract currently includes approximately 1,900 premises in the Surrey Heath constituency, of which almost 900 premises have already been given coverage.We will aim to cover the remaining premises that are not currently included in Project Gigabit or suppliers’ commercial delivery plans as far as possible as funding becomes available, in line with the objective of achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing an economic security agreement with the European Union to mitigate potential geopolitical shocks.

We have continued to enhance our cooperation with the EU on a range of economic security issues of mutual concern since the UK-EU Summit in 2025. The EU remains our most important trading partner, our economies are deeply interconnected and face many of the same challenges and threats, and we share a commitment to upholding the rules-based order. In February 2026, DBT Secretary of State (along with Chancellor for the Exchequer) met EU Commissioners Sefcovic and Dombrovksis to discuss trade and economic issues, including economic security. The UK and EU will hold a second Summit in 2026, where we will seek to further strengthen our partnership on economic security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of increasing the frequency of inter-department ministerial meetings about the UK Overseas Territories.

The Overseas Territories Ministerial Group (OTMG) which I chair already meets regularly, interspersed with official level meetings, and other ad hoc meetings as required between individual Ministers - to consider strategic and cross cutting issues affecting the OTs. We also meet cross-departmentally on the Polar regions with issues affecting relevant OTs in the South Atlantic considered in that format too. The OTMG last met on 12 February 2026. We will continue to keep the level of cross-government ministerial engagement on the Overseas Territories under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to ratify the UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question HL15025.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a long-term deal on steel tariffs with the EU.

The UK and EU are close partners with shared interests. We are engaging intensively on steel tariffs with the European Commission and are working to find a bilateral solution that protects vital UK-EU steel trade. We have made clear that restricting UK access to the EU market would disrupt key supply chains and harm both our industries. In parallel, we are also prioritising the development of a robust measure of our own in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June to protect our domestic sector, making sure we maintain secure and resilient supply chains.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act on UK producers.

This Government notes the publication of the proposed EU Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and the wider Made in Europe agenda. In general, the proposal suggests that UK content would be considered equivalent to “Union origin” by default for public procurement and public support schemes (e.g. subsidies). However, some of the specific automotive provisions are very concerning and we are in close touch with industry on this. The proposal remains at the Commission stage and is subject to legislative processes. We will continue to monitor its progress and press the EU to avoid any detrimental impact on the UK and EU’s automotive sectors and on our uniquely integrated UK-EU supply chains.

What steps his Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of future European Union tariffs on UK steel exports.

The UK and EU are close partners with shared interests. We are engaging intensively on steel tariffs with the European Commission and are working to find a bilateral solution that protects vital UK-EU steel trade. We have made clear that restricting UK access to the EU market would disrupt key supply chains and harm both our industries. In parallel, we are also prioritising the development of a robust measure of our own in light of the UK steel safeguard expiring in June to protect our domestic sector, making sure we maintain secure and resilient supply chains.

What assessment his Department has made of its red lines for negotiations with the EU on protecting critical industries from the imposition of tariffs.

The UK and EU are close partners with shared interests. We have agreed tariff free trade with the EU under the TCA, and we expect the EU to honour these obligations. The new steel tariff measures announced by the EU therefore present significant concern. We are engaging intensively with the European Commission to find a bilateral solution that protects vital UK-EU steel trade. We have made clear that restricting UK access to the EU market would disrupt key supply chains and harm both our industries.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of legislating to provide the Charity Commission for England and Wales with additional investigatory powers.

The Government keeps the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and is actively considering what further powers are required to support the Commission in regulating charities. As a non-ministerial department, the Charity Commission receives its funding directly from the Treasury. In the 2025 Spending Review the Charity Commission’s budget increased by over 27% to £37.9m for 2026-27. This will support the Commission to respond to increasing casework demands.The Charity Commission already has the power to disqualify charity trustees whose conduct is damaging to public trust and confidence in charities under section 181A of the Charities Act 2011. As part of the Government’s action plan for social cohesion we have announced that the Charity Commission’s powers will be extended in order to tackle extremist abuse of charities and strengthen the Commission's oversight of the sector. This includes helping the Commission to disqualify charity trustees who have been excluded from the UK, deprived of British citizenship or are engaged in conduct which promotes violence or hatred.

How many meetings he has had with his EU counterparts to discuss UK-EU relations following the UK-EU Summit 2025 - Joint Statement of 19 May 2025.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office regularly speaks to his EU counterparts to discuss UK-EU relations on both a formal and informal basis.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of resources available to the Charity Commission for England and Wales to conduct investigations.

The Government keeps the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and is actively considering what further powers are required to support the Commission in regulating charities. As a non-ministerial department, the Charity Commission receives its funding directly from the Treasury. In the 2025 Spending Review the Charity Commission’s budget increased by over 27% to £37.9m for 2026-27. This will support the Commission to respond to increasing casework demands.The Charity Commission already has the power to disqualify charity trustees whose conduct is damaging to public trust and confidence in charities under section 181A of the Charities Act 2011. As part of the Government’s action plan for social cohesion we have announced that the Charity Commission’s powers will be extended in order to tackle extremist abuse of charities and strengthen the Commission's oversight of the sector. This includes helping the Commission to disqualify charity trustees who have been excluded from the UK, deprived of British citizenship or are engaged in conduct which promotes violence or hatred.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will consider the potential merits of conducting economic modeling of the organisational transition costs arising from local government reorganisation in Surrey.

The East Surrey and West Surrey Joint Committees, established by the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, are required to prepare an Implementation Plan. Following the election of members in May the shadow East Surrey and West Surrey Councils must then keep under review that Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will include the budgeted transition costs and how these are to be met. We have also announced up to £63 million additional funding to support councils through reorganisation.

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to introduce powers enabling the Charity Commission for England and Wales to disqualify charity trustees whose conduct is deemed damaging to (a) public trust and (b) confidence in charities.

The Government keeps the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and is actively considering what further powers are required to support the Commission in regulating charities. As a non-ministerial department, the Charity Commission receives its funding directly from the Treasury. In the 2025 Spending Review the Charity Commission’s budget increased by over 27% to £37.9m for 2026-27. This will support the Commission to respond to increasing casework demands.The Charity Commission already has the power to disqualify charity trustees whose conduct is damaging to public trust and confidence in charities under section 181A of the Charities Act 2011. As part of the Government’s action plan for social cohesion we have announced that the Charity Commission’s powers will be extended in order to tackle extremist abuse of charities and strengthen the Commission's oversight of the sector. This includes helping the Commission to disqualify charity trustees who have been excluded from the UK, deprived of British citizenship or are engaged in conduct which promotes violence or hatred.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to consult the UK fishing sector on the potential implications of UK-EU fishing agreements.

The Defra Secretary of State, Fisheries Minister and Defra officials engage regularly with representatives from across the UK fishing sector. This includes engagement on the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including (but not limited to) the fisheries access deal agreed in May 2025, the work of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries, and annual consultations with the EU to agree fishing opportunities for shared stocks. Department representatives often attend national and regional fisheries committee meetings to discuss UK-EU fishing arrangements and opportunities.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits to the UK industrial base by fostering closer cooperation with EU defence initiatives.

The Ministry of Defence is dedicated to ensuring that defence is an engine for growth across the UK. The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union in May last year demonstrates this Government’s commitment to enhancing European security, fostering economic growth, and reinforcing NATO. We will continue to collaborate with the EU and its Member States on defence and security, entering agreements only when they align with the national interest and deliver value for money to taxpayers. This partnership, alongside closer cooperation with EU defence initiatives, will strengthen NATO, enhance European security, ensuring the continent is as safe as it needs to be.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Charity Commission for England and Wales to investigate undisclosed contingent liabilities within registered charities.

The Charity Commission’s role is to ensure that charity trustees comply with their duties as set out in charity law; that charities further their charitable purposes for the public benefit; and that there is no misconduct or mismanagement. I am confident that it has the ability to do so effectively.Accounting rules cover when contingent liabilities and contingent assets should be disclosed in a charity's accounts, and charity trustees must ensure that they have complied with the requirements of relevant accounting standards. There is no set threshold over which contingent liabilities become a regulatory concern - it is dependent on an individual charity’s circumstances. However, the Charity Commission expects charity trustees or the charity’s auditor to report matters of material significance to the Charity Commission to assess.

Media and Sport, how many regulatory intervention cases were opened by the Charity Commission for England and Wales in each of the past five years.

The Charity Commission does not publish data about categories of complaints, and therefore cannot provide the number of complaints specifically relating to governance received in the past year or how many resulted in a formal investigation.The following table details the number of regulatory concern cases opened by the Charity Commission between 2021-2025, and how many of these relate to public complaints received by the Charity Commission. Data for 2020/21 is not comparable. Year2020/20212021/20222022/20232023/20242024/2025Regulatory concern cases openedN/A2,9173,4144,2154,477Of which is a complaint about a charityN/A2,0292,0763,1203,659

Media and Sport, how many complaints relating to the governance of charities were received by the Charity Commission for England and Wales in the past year; and how many of those complaints resulted in a formal investigation.

The Charity Commission does not publish data about categories of complaints, and therefore cannot provide the number of complaints specifically relating to governance received in the past year or how many resulted in a formal investigation.The following table details the number of regulatory concern cases opened by the Charity Commission between 2021-2025, and how many of these relate to public complaints received by the Charity Commission. Data for 2020/21 is not comparable. Year2020/20212021/20222022/20232023/20242024/2025Regulatory concern cases openedN/A2,9173,4144,2154,477Of which is a complaint about a charityN/A2,0292,0763,1203,659

Media and Sport, what level of contingent liabilities charities can accumulate before regulatory intervention from the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The Charity Commission’s role is to ensure that charity trustees comply with their duties as set out in charity law; that charities further their charitable purposes for the public benefit; and that there is no misconduct or mismanagement. I am confident that it has the ability to do so effectively.Accounting rules cover when contingent liabilities and contingent assets should be disclosed in a charity's accounts, and charity trustees must ensure that they have complied with the requirements of relevant accounting standards. There is no set threshold over which contingent liabilities become a regulatory concern - it is dependent on an individual charity’s circumstances. However, the Charity Commission expects charity trustees or the charity’s auditor to report matters of material significance to the Charity Commission to assess.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure access to speech and language therapy for people diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in Surrey Heath constituency.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs) and may include speech and language therapy. We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.The Government is committed to improving care for everyone with dementia, including those with Primary Progressive Aphasia, which is why we have funded the work of Dementia 100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help simplify best practice for busy system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia.A number of experts, including those with expertise in speech and language therapy and dementia care, provided independent, desktop analysis of the tool, and this invaluable feedback was integrated into the tool.The D100: Pathway Assessment Tool can be found at the following link:https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-tool