Written questions by Maguire.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Integrated Care Board funding levels on GP recruitment and retention in Epsom and Ewell constituency.

We are investing an additional £889 million in GPs for 2025/26, bringing total spending on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework, and means we are reversing recent trends by allocating a rising share of National Health Service resources to GPs.Under recently announced changes to the GP Contract in 2025/26, the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) will become more flexible to allow primary care networks to respond better to local workforce needs. The two ARRS pots have been combined to create a single pot for the reimbursement of patient-facing staff costs. There will be no restrictions on the number or type of staff covered, including GPs and practice nurses.In the Epsom and Ewell constituency, as of 31 May 2025, there were 67.8 full time equivalent doctors in GPs, and since October 2024, 1,900 GPs have been recruited via the ARRS nationally.

Whether increases to police spending will be funded through (a) general taxation and (b) council tax.

As set out in the Spending Review 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms. Police core spending power reflects a mix of central government funding and local taxation through the police precept. This 2.3% projection is therefore premised on the police being funded through increases to both. The government will set out spending plans for police forces in England and Wales, including the final precept level and core government funding, at the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of neighbourhood police officers in Surrey.

Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of the British policing model. Every community deserves visible, pro-active and accessible neighbourhood policing with officers tackling the issues that matter to them.£200m has been made available to police forces in England and Wales in 2025/26 to fund additional policing personnel into neighbourhood teams. By the end of this parliament there will be 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales, including up to 3000 additional neighbourhood officers by the end of March 26.In 2025/26 Surrey Police has been allocated £2,582,672 and has a delivery plan which sets out a projected growth of 25 newly recruited officers and 15 newly recruited special constables.Full details of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant allocations and projections for 2025/26 can be found here: Neighbourhood policing grant allocations and projections: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2024 to Question 19410 on General Practitioners: Labour Turnover, what estimate he has made of the number of GPs on ICB funded training schemes which are equivalent to the (a) General Practice Fellowship and (b) Supporting Mentors schemes.

Data on integrated care board (ICB) funded training schemes, their equivalent to the General Practice Fellowship scheme and the Supporting Mentors scheme, or the numbers of staff benefitting from these schemes is not held centrally.While NHS England provides funding, through ICB allocations and the Primary Care Transformation Fund, to develop general practice services and teams, ICBs have the autonomy and flexibility to make decisions that serve the best interests of local people and communities.

If he will publish the (a) medical conditions that would exclude someone from joining the Armed Forces and (b) the specific disqualifying factors that would prevent a potential recruit from joining the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF.

Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950, Leaflet 6-7-7 sets out the medical employment standards for joining the Armed Forces. The latest edition was published in August 2024 following an intensive review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies. I have placed a copy of JSP950 Leaflet 6-7-7 (August 2024) in the House of Commons library.

Whether he plans to extend the retention bonuses for tri-service aircraft engineers.

Retention payments remain under constant review and are targeted where they provide the best value for recruitment, retention and the taxpayer. For aircraft engineers specifically, we are collecting data on their efficacy and will review if necessary. Financial incentives, including retention payments, are but one method we use to improve recruitment and retention and are not just targeted at aircraft engineers. We are always seeking ways to incentivise Service, not all of which are financial. The Strategic Defence Review also explored the importance of pay and measures to improve retention, including recommending the Ministry of Defence prioritise delivering its 'flexible working' initiative, and providing support towards home ownership. Also announced as part of the Review was over £1.5 billion additional funding to fix forces family housing. As a new Government, we have already improved the childcare offer for Service personnel, secured the largest pay award for Service personnel in 22 years, and we are in the final stages of a landmark bill to appoint an independent Armed Forces Commissioner, giving Service personnel a strong voice that can hold the Government to account.

Whether she has made an assessment of trends in levels of foodbank usage in Surrey since 2020.

The Department does not hold information on levels of foodbank usage in Surrey. The latest statistics on food bank usage including data at a national and regional level can be accessed here Children in low income families: local area statistics - GOV.UK and are available on Stat-Xplore Stat-Xplore - Home. We are committed to tackling poverty and reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels. To inform this work, DWP officials have engaged with a range of organisations to better understand the complex food support landscape. We also continue to provide substantial funding to Local Authorities to support those most in need and extended the Household Support Fund by a further year until March 2026, providing funding of £742 million in England. Through the Spending Review, we have announced £842m per annum to reform crisis support. This includes the first ever multi-year settlement to transform the Household Support Fund into a new Crisis and Resilience Fund, incorporating Discretionary Housing Payments and funding to ensure the poorest children do not go hungry outside of term time.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that primary care services are adequately resourced in Surrey.

Every year we consult with each primary care profession about what services they will provide, and the funding providers are entitled to in return under their contracts.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services within their regions. This includes ensuring service providers are able to meet the reasonable needs of their patient population. Where necessary, ICBs can commission local enhanced services which can vary in scope and funding, to fit the needs of the patient population.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in improving surface water drainage to prevent overloading of combined sewer systems.

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and ensuring adoption and maintenance arrangements. New national standards make clear that SuDS should be designed to cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits in the form of flood prevention and storm overflow reduction, offering reuse opportunities, reducing run off, and helping to improve water quality, amenity, and biodiversity. The standards are a material consideration in deciding planning applications in accordance with paragraphs 181 and 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework.The Environment Agency has a strategic overview role for all sources of flooding, including surface water; playing an active role in supporting and enabling local authorities to plan and adapt to current and future surface water flood risk.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support chalk stream restoration in (a) Hogsmill River and (b) the rest of the South East.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working with the Chalk Stream Restoration Group, and other partners, to protect and restore chalk streams across the South East. For example, it is ensuring that water companies have ambitious but affordable programmes that address the threats to chalk streams, including restoring sustainable abstraction in chalk catchments and reducing the impacts of discharges from storm overflows. It also continues to work with partners to lead or support numerous chalk stream restoration projects. The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) is a programme used to continuously improve the water industry and thus protect our water and waterbodies. There are 8 WINEP water quality actions that Thames Water will undertake in AMP8 (between 2025 and 2030) at Hogsmill. The EA have also been supporting species recovery of water voles on the Hogsmill.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the new hospital in Sutton, in the context of rising construction and building costs.

We have now put the New Hospital Programme on a sustainable footing, with a timeline that can be met, and a budget that is consistent with the fiscal rules under which the Government is operating. We are backing this plan with investment, which will increase to up to £15 billion over each consecutive five-year wave, averaging approximately £3 billion a year from 2030. The exact profile of funding will be confirmed in rolling five-year waves at regular Spending Reviews, as with all Government capital budgets in future. The cost estimates for schemes include the significant cost of inflation in recent years and use a construction specific index to inflate future costs.The final funding amount for the Specialist and Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton will be subject to the review and approval of a Full Business Case nearer to construction starting between 2032 and 2034, as is standard for large infrastructure projects.

Whether her Department plans to expand discretionary housing payments to (a) Surrey and (b) other areas with high rental inflation.

The Government announced through the Spending Review that Discretionary Housing Payments will be included in the new Crisis and Resilience Fund from April 2026. This will provide £842 million per year (£1 billion including Barnett consequential) to reform how crisis support is delivered locally. By combining Discretionary Housing Payments to create a single, streamlined fund, the Crisis and Resilience Fund will make it easier for local authorities to deliver joined-up support, whilst helping people to access the help they need when they need it. We will work closely with Local Authorities on the detailed design of the fund and will issue further information on our planned approach.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of nationalising Thames Water.

The Government has no plans to nationalise Thames Water or any other water company. It would cost billions of pounds and take years to unpick the current ownership model, slowing down our reforms and only worsening sewage pollution. However, this Government stands ready to intervene to ensure the continued provision of vital public services – through the use of a Special Administration Regime (SAR) – should this be required. A SAR is not a form of renationalisation.

What recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) insurance providers on helping to ensure that cancer patients are able to access affordable travel insurance.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders, including other departments and representatives of the insurance industry, on a range of issues. The Government recognises the important role of insurance products, including travel insurance, in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. For example, a history of serious illness such as cancer, may increase the likelihood or severity of a claim, which in turn affects the premium an insurer decides to charge or whether they offer cover at all. However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). In addition, since April 2021, the FCA has required firms offering travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical conditions.

When his Department plans to announce the (a) personnel requirements and (b) organisational design for (i) Op Courage and (ii) Op Restore.

Op RESTORE and Op COURAGE are established bespoke National Health Service commissioned services for veterans. There are currently no plans for announcements to be made about personnel requirements and organisational design for Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE.The new joint centre will take forward the Government’s ambitious reform agenda as set out in the Health Mission and Plan for Change, with more details to come when the 10-Year Health Plan is published.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a cross-sector taskforce led by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to (a) assess the barriers people with cancer face when seeking travel insurance and (b) make recommendations on improving (i) transparency and (ii) access in the insurance market.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders, including other departments and representatives of the insurance industry, on a range of issues. The Government recognises the important role of insurance products, including travel insurance, in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. For example, a history of serious illness such as cancer, may increase the likelihood or severity of a claim, which in turn affects the premium an insurer decides to charge or whether they offer cover at all. However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). In addition, since April 2021, the FCA has required firms offering travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical conditions.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a right to be forgotten for people who have been out of cancer treatment for a significant period, in the context of the use of medical histories to determine (a) premiums and (b) acceptances for travel insurance.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders, including other departments and representatives of the insurance industry, on a range of issues. The Government recognises the important role of insurance products, including travel insurance, in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. For example, a history of serious illness such as cancer, may increase the likelihood or severity of a claim, which in turn affects the premium an insurer decides to charge or whether they offer cover at all. However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). In addition, since April 2021, the FCA has required firms offering travel insurance to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical conditions.

How many former Armed Forces personnel have completed the process of re-enlisting in each year since 2020.

It is taking time to collate and review the required information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How long it takes on average to process applications for former Armed Forces personnel who apply for re-enlistment.

It is taking time to collate and review the required information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How many people have claimed the re-joining Bounty in each year since 2020.

The Ministry of Defence is always seeking ways to incentivise Service, not all of which are financial. In recent years a variety of financial incentives of varying degrees have been made available for the recruitment of both Regular and Reserve personnel, including re-joiner payments to encourage ex-Regulars to rejoin either Regular or Reserve Service. Recent financial incentives have included a Royal Navy Recruit Bounty Scheme worth £500 and Army Reserve enlistment schemes worth between £500 and £1,200. Golden Hello payments of £100,000 for the recruitment of specialised doctors and £50,000 for specialised nurses are available. There are currently no live schemes for Reserve Service enlistment. The levels of financial incentive for both Regulars and Reserves vary by Service and by trade, but all were location agnostic; numbers of payments have varied according to need and have been generally successful in filling some important roles and trades. Information on the numbers of people who have claimed a financial incentive in each year since 2020 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.