Written questions by Spencer.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) motorway noise and (b) air pollution from the M25 on schools in (i) Addlestone, (ii) Chertsey, (iii) Downside, (iv) Egham, (v) New Haw and (vi) Row Town in 2023-24.

Local outdoor air quality is the responsibility of local authorities who should prepare local air quality strategies to ensure that air quality in their area is improved.The department takes the health, safety, and wellbeing of school users very seriously and publishes a range of guidance documents, such as the Building Bulletins, which support the provision of healthy school environments.Where the department is centrally delivering school building projects, such as through the School Rebuilding Programme, all relevant and necessary surveys will be undertaken on the projects to inform the scheme proposals, and this list of surveys will be informed by local context and guidance from the Local Planning Authority and Statutory Consultees.

What discussions he has had with South Western Rail on the performance of the Chertsey branch line since July 2024.

Department officials are in regular conversation with South Western Railway (SWR) on its performance in all areas of its network, including the Chertsey branch line.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of levels of service provision on the Chertsey branch line on passenger safety at (a) Egham, (b) Chertsey, (c) Addlestone and (c) Weybridge stations in 2024.

There are no current safety concerns that have been raised to Department officials on the Chertsey branch line. I would welcome further information on any concerns that the Member has.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Thames Water on removing surface water from sewer systems by (a) sewer lining and (b) manhole sealing in the Runnymede and Weybridge Constituency since July 2024.

Since July 2024 the Secretary of State has not had discussions with Thames water specifically on removing surface water from sewer systems by (a) sewer lining and (b) manhole sealing in the Runnymede and Weybridge Constituency. The Environment Agency has confirmed that Thames Water is investigating groundwater infiltration and surface water inundation into its sewer network in Weybridge and is developing a management plan. This is part of Thames Water’s wider ongoing work to update and develop its Groundwater Impacted Systems Management Plans which may include targeted sewer lining, manhole sealing and other actions as appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many enforcement actions to require riparian landowners to discharge their watercourse maintenance obligations were taken by the Environment Agency in each constituency in 2023.

In 2023 the Environment Agency (EA) recorded 404 incidents nationally where riparian ownership was referenced. Where offences were identified the EA took action in line with their enforcement and sanctions policy to protect the environment. One warning letter, one advice and guidance letter and one site warning were issued during 2023. There were no prosecutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Thames Water's operational response to flooding during Storm Henk (a) nationally and (b) in Surrey.

Storm Henk was the eighth named storm of the 2023/24 flood season, with flood warnings across the country from 02 to 09 January. River flooding impacts were due to heavy rainfall falling on saturated catchments. On 4 January, the impact from flooding in the Rive Mole, Surrey, resulted in Thames Water’s Horley Wastewater Treatment Works discharging effluent into the surrounding area as the storm tanks overflowed. The Government expects water and sewerage companies to take all possible measures to avoid pollution incidents and to mitigate environmental impact if they occur. If a water company is found to have breached their permit conditions, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to take action, in line with their enforcement and sanctions policy. Looking ahead, Surrey County Council are in the process of preparing their reports for the Winter 2024 flooding, which will include a review of Thames Water’s recent performance together with recommendations.

What professional accreditations will new mental health practitioners employed in schools be required to hold.

We are currently working with colleagues at the Department for Education and NHS England to consider the options.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Thames Water’s surface and foul water drainage asset management in the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.

It is important for companies to maintain assets to ensure compliance with legal obligations and continuity of service for customers now and into the future. There are two common performance commitments that Ofwat uses, alongside other information, to monitor the health of wastewater assets. These are treatment works compliance and number of sewer collapses.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the impact of excluding pitch fees from pension credit applications on park home residents.

No such discussions have taken place. Pitch fees can usually be met through Housing Benefit. In cases where there is a tenancy of over 21 years, then the pitch fees are not eligible for Housing Benefit but instead may be met by the housing cost element in Pension Credit, subject to the usual Pension Credit eligibility rules.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of her increased housing targets on sewerage capacity by (a) water company region and (b) constituency.

The Government recognises the importance of water and wastewater provision on new developments. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of growth as part of Water Resource Management Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.The way that water resources are planned for is being considered as part of a commission reviewing the Water Sector Regulatory System, as recently announced by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Food and Rural Affairs, the performance standards he expects Thames Water to meet in response to a sewer flooding incident.

The Environment Agency expects water and sewerage companies to take all possible measures to avoid pollution incidents and to mitigate environmental impact if they occur. Thames Water’s current performance on pollution incidents is unacceptable and the company needs to increase the scale and pace of action set out in its Pollution Incident Reduction Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the condition of flood risk assets along the non-tidal Thames on flood risk in that area.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season. The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion. There are currently no flood risk assets on the River Thames within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. However, the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation scheme (MWEFAS) reduces impacts of Thames flooding. Assessments carried out post-flooding showed that it performed as designed. Approximately 7% of primary purpose navigation assets below required condition are within Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. Where assets are not at required condition, this identifies that work is needed. It doesn’t present a risk of failure, or compromise performance in a flood, because mitigation measures are put in place such as more frequent inspections by the Environment Agency (EA). Defra ministers regularly meet with EA leadership to discuss its performance and delivery of departmental priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) ability of river users to safely navigate the Thames river and (b) potential economic impact of the proportion of navigation assets along the non-tidal Thames that are below their target condition.

(a) The safety of river users navigating the non-tidal Thames is a priority for the Environment Agency (EA), although it remains the responsibility of the master of their vessel to ensure the safety of it and everyone on board. The EA have measures in place to ensure the safety of river users which include regular inspections and maintenance of assets, marking obstructions and hazards in the channel. The hydraulic locks on the Thames also have a ‘public power’ setting which reduces the speed that the locks fills or empties, to ensure that they can be safely operated by the public when there is no Lock & Weir Keeper on duty. (b) The EA engages regularly with businesses operating on the River Thames. The EA is developing a strategic management plan for assets on its navigable waterways. This plan looks to set out the performance of its assets and identify the investment required to maintain these assets to deliver that performance at an acceptable level of risk. Although some assets are currently classed as below required condition this does not necessarily mean they are inoperable.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Environment Agency’s performance on flood risk asset management along the non-tidal Thames; and what discussions he has had with that agency on improving its performance.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season. The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion. There are currently no flood risk assets on the River Thames within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. However, the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation scheme (MWEFAS) reduces impacts of Thames flooding. Assessments carried out post-flooding showed that it performed as designed. Approximately 7% of primary purpose navigation assets below required condition are within Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. Where assets are not at required condition, this identifies that work is needed. It doesn’t present a risk of failure, or compromise performance in a flood, because mitigation measures are put in place such as more frequent inspections by the Environment Agency (EA). Defra ministers regularly meet with EA leadership to discuss its performance and delivery of departmental priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) flood risk and (b) primary navigation assets along the non-tidal Thames that are below their target condition lie within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season. The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion. There are currently no flood risk assets on the River Thames within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. However, the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation scheme (MWEFAS) reduces impacts of Thames flooding. Assessments carried out post-flooding showed that it performed as designed. Approximately 7% of primary purpose navigation assets below required condition are within Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. Where assets are not at required condition, this identifies that work is needed. It doesn’t present a risk of failure, or compromise performance in a flood, because mitigation measures are put in place such as more frequent inspections by the Environment Agency (EA). Defra ministers regularly meet with EA leadership to discuss its performance and delivery of departmental priorities.

With which countries she is negotiating a reciprocal agreement on uprating state pensions.

My department is not negotiating any reciprocal social security agreements.

What steps she is taking to (a) train, (b) recruit and (c) retain educational psychologists.

Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). However, the department knows that current workforce shortages are a barrier to delivering its ambition for an inclusive mainstream education system.Whilst it is the responsibility of local authorities, as employers, to recruit to their educational psychology services, the department is taking measures to support these services by investing in building the training pipeline.The department is investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from this year. This builds on the £10 million currently being invested in a cohort of over 200 trainees who began their training in September 2023.Following graduation, trainees who have had their training funded by the department are required to remain in local authority employment for a minimum period. To support local authority services to recruit and retain their educational psychology workforce, this requirement will increase to three years for those trainees beginning their course this year. This will allow local authority services to benefit from the public investment in training and will support their delivery of statutory assessments and wider work.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of improvements to sewage works discharging into the river Mole and (b) extent of further work needed to reduce storm overflows from those sites.

The Environment Agency (EA) has 31 Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) schemes in the current investment period 2020-25. These cover the Mole catchment as a whole. The schemes involve a range of actions including increasing storm tank capacity, investigations at Sewage Treatment Works in the catchment and monitoring. These schemes are on target to be completed by the end of the year and will be reviewed by the EA.

Which schools are participating in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme; and how much funding is provided to each school as part of the Early Language and Support for Every Child in Surrey.

There are 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme currently, following the continuation of the programme for an additional academic year, which was announced in July 2024. The full list of schools registered to deliver the NELI programme is published online at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/neli-nuffield-early-language-intervention-programme.The department and NHSE are funding nine Early Language and Support Every Child (ELSEC) pathfinders, one per Department for Education region and each receiving £500,000 in the 2024/25 financial year.

What assessment she has made of the economic impact to businesses and communities in Runnymede and Weybridge constituency of the M25/A3 improvement works.

National Highways (NH) is delivering a scheme on the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange and selected surrounding roads to reduce congestion, improve safety, support planned housing and economic growth, and improve provision for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders crossing or using routes in the vicinity of M25 junction 10. During the economic assessments of this scheme, NH appraised the economic impact of road user delays during construction, as well as the long-term benefits for the whole scheme across the aggregate area. As this did not separate out the assessment by areas, the impact in the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency specifically cannot be quantified.