Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that adult social care providers maintain high standards of (a) staff training and (b) competency in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Adult social care providers who carry out regulated activities in the Surrey Heath constituency are assessed by the Care Quality Commission for compliance with Regulation 18: Staffing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Providers are required to deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times, and to enable them to meet all other regulatory requirements. Staff must receive the support, training, professional development, supervision, and appraisals that are necessary for them to carry out their role and responsibilities.
The Department’s Care Workforce Pathway is the first universal career structure, launched in January 2024, to support the adult social care workforce in England. It sets out the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours needed to work, and develop a career in, adult social care.
The pathway recognises care workers as the professionals they are and promotes long-term career development, to support recruitment and retention across the sector. The Department continues to support care providers through its delivery partner to adopt the pathway and is also working with local care ecosystems to test the pathway’s benefits at a system level.
The Learning and Development Support Scheme, backed by up to £12 million this financial year, provides funding for over 200 training courses, including the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, which supports foundational skills. Alongside this, the Quality Assured Care Learning Service helps Care Providers identify high-quality courses by reviewing individual qualifications against bespoke standards, building trust in training quality and supporting workforce development.
The Department is also working with Skills England to assess current and future skills needs and to coordinate efforts across local authorities, training providers, and employers.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the effectiveness of the regulatory distinction between (a) supported living and (b) personal care settings for adult social care provision.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for health and social care in England. The CQC has powers under the Health and Care Act 2008 to regulate adult social care services to make sure they provide safe, effective, compassionate, and high-quality care. Where concerns on quality or safety are identified, the CQC uses the regulatory and enforcement powers it has available and will take action to ensure the safety of the people drawing on care and support.
Providers are required to be registered with, and therefore be regulated by, the CQC, when they carry out personal care for people who are unable to provide it for themselves because of old age, illness or disability, as defined in Regulation 2 (Interpretation) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. There are certain exemptions to this regulation by the CQC, including supported living settings where the provider of supported living has no ‘ongoing role’ in the direction or control of any personal care provided. In some cases, it may be that the housing elements, and personal care elements are commissioned and provided separately. In such cases, the provider of the personal care is required to be registered and inspected by the CQC.
These regulations are not currently under review. Any amendments to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 would be subject to the Parliamentary process which would include a public consultation, and an opportunity to consider the merits of further regulation of social care providers.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that adults with complex (a) mental health needs and (b) learning disabilities in supported living settings are adequately safeguarded in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities have a statutory duty to make enquiries about safeguarding concerns under the Care Act 2014.
Everyone with a severe mental health or learning disability who is placed in supported living would have had an assessment under the Care Act 2014. This assessment would identify the person’s needs and would help in identifying the appropriate accommodation and/or support. It also provides the legal basis for safeguarding anyone who is at risk.
The NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) works closely with colleagues at the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB and Surrey County Council to make sure that the Care Act 2014 is followed and any requirements are carried out.
If a safeguarding concern is flagged, the NHS Frimley ICB or Surrey Heartlands ICB would be involved in safeguarding meetings with the appropriate other services, for instance under a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference or Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with Surrey County Council on the provision of adult social care in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Department officials maintain a range of engagement avenues with adult social care departments in local authorities across the country on a number of issues, and with the wider professional community of directors of adult services. Colleagues from Surrey County Council have been involved in a number of these discussions.
In addition, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are delivering their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. Surrey County Council was rated ‘Good’ by the CQC. Their assessment was published on 20 November 2024, and is available at the following link:
https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports/surrey-1124
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with Thames Water on (a) planned infrastructure upgrades to wastewater treatment facilities and (b) ensuring sufficient capacity to accommodate (i) existing and (ii) proposed housing developments in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to ensure the timely delivery of the water and wastewater capacity required for growth. It is doing so, in part, through oversight and assurance of large infrastructure delivery, including that delivered by Thames Water.
The Environment Agency (EA) has engaged with Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) throughout their Local Plan preparation process. The Local Plan examination began on 16 September, and the EA is expecting to make verbal representations to the Planning Inspector.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reducing the proposed qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain for (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other NHS workers in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Within the new settlement rules, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce their qualifying period based on contributions to the UK economy and society. We will be consulting on those new rules later this year.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of systems for the handling of human remains.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In July 2025 the Fuller Inquiry’s phase 2 final report was published, which looked at the wider national lessons for hospital and non-hospital settings where the deceased are cared for. It examined whether procedures and practices safeguard the security and dignity of the deceased across the range of settings and made 75 recommendations in total.
This final report recommended the introduction of a statutory regulatory regime for those caring for the deceased. The Department will publish an interim update in winter 2025 and a final response by summer 2026. This will include updates on recommendations for the funeral sector and standards to protect the security and dignity of the deceased in all settings.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) young and (b) older adults to access (i) employment opportunities and (ii) skills training in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP currently offers employment support for eligible customers of all ages, through the network of Jobcentres across the UK, and through contracted employment programmes. The Government is reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them progress in their careers. This includes an enhanced focus on skills and careers advice.
The Department of Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain.
The Chancellor has announced that every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work through a new Youth Guarantee. This new initiative will build upon existing employment support and sector-based work academies currently being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The scheme forms part of the government’s aim to provide targeted support for young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
A dedicated offer for older jobseekers provides more tailored support for those affected by additional challenges such as out-of-date skills or qualifications or those who need help with CVs.
In Surrey Heath, our Jobcentre teams work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally for customers of all ages. Support for younger customers includes Camberley Jobcentre co-locating our services within the local Youth Hub alongside provisions including mental health support, budgeting and financial support, digital and skills training as well as CV and careers guidance. Our Jobcentre Teams also have dedicated Work Coaches delivering Mid-Life MOT sessions and Pension awareness workshops for our 50+ customers. The team also work closely with providers such as Surrey Adult Learning to ensure customers of all ages, including those 50+, can access digital support for internet use, online job and CV support as well as digital tools for communication and productivity.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of houses in multiple occupation on levels of (a) loneliness and (b) mental health issues in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has no plans to make such an assessment. We will keep the regulation of HMOs under review.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has had recent discussions with Surrey Heath Borough Council on support for pubs in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the vital role of pubs and hospitality businesses in our communities and economy, including those in Surrey Heath, and that’s why we’re taking targeted action to support them with the pressures they face.
In April, we launched a Taskforce to consider ways to create a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025). These reforms are part of the Small Business Strategy, which also tackles late payments, improves access to finance, and cuts red tape. We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents.
Additionally, we’re creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value and continue to work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to boost productivity and resilience by working together to address the challenges facing businesses.