Zöe Franklin MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
30 published records · newest first.
Written questions
CouncillorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current statutory framework for parish councillors.
Answer: The Government believes that the current statutory framework for parish councillors is proportionate and adequate. When parliamentary time allows, the Government intends to introduce legislation for a range of measures to create a clearer and consistently...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: PayMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a framework to enable parish councils to remunerate elected parish councillors.
Answer: Parish and town councils may already pay a basic allowance to their councillors. It is up to individual councils to set levels of allowances appropriate for their individual circumstances.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: PayMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of remuneration for parish councillors on the recruitment and retention of those councillors.
Answer: Parish and town councils may already pay a basic allowance to their councillors. It is up to individual councils to set levels of allowances appropriate for their individual circumstances.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether forthcoming leasehold reform legislation will include measures to protect residents of retirement leasehold properties from (a) excessive service charges and (b) associat
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what protections are in place for the families of deceased leaseholders of retirement properties who continue to incur service charges while a property remains unsold.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an estimate of the number of leasehold retirement properties that may be difficult for people to sell because of (a) high service charges and (b) associated f
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to protect residents of leasehold retirement properties from unaffordable increases in service charges and associated management fees.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of service charges in leasehold retirement properties on the ability of older residents and their families to sell those prop
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release "Housebuilding around train stations will be given default yes" published on 18 November 2025, whether he pans to define the area
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 122451 on 1 April 2026.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: Disability and Older PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of national planning policy in supporting the delivery of adaptable housing.
Answer: Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements f...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on the ability of charitable housing providers to me
Answer: Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, did not propose to amend the NPPF definition of affordable housing to i...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAlmshouses: Affordable HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft National Planning Policy Framework, whether almshouses and other charitable housing providers are treated as affordable housing for planning purposes.
Answer: Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, did not propose to amend the NPPF definition of affordable housing to i...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFlats: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to extend statutory leaseholder protections to residents in buildings under 11 metres where freeholders seek to pass on the cost of remediation or other major w
Answer: Regarding cladding, the Department is committed to protecting residential leaseholders from bearing the costs of remediating historic fire safety-related defects as far as is proportionate and offering support to both residents and leaseholders.The Remedi...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the extent to which leaseholders are protected from unreasonable service charges and other costs passed on by freeholders.
Answer: On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance a...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of recent housing and tenancy reforms on student accommodation.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59225 on 19 June 2025.
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of standalone council elections that do not align with another principal authority as a result of local government
Answer: Where the government makes a structural changes order to implement a proposal for local government reorganisation in an area, the legislation can provide for the alignment of parish councils to the electoral cycle of their new principal council. This is a...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has produced a risk assessment on the ability of local authorities affected by the reversal of the 2026 local election postponement to deliver those electi
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has paid for legal costs arising from proceedings concerning the proposed postponement of the 2026 local elections.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities arising from the postponement of the 2026 local elections and the subsequent reversal of that decision; and
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he consulted (a) Cabinet and (b) the Prime Minister prior to the decision to (i) postpone the 2026 local elections and (ii) reverse that postponement.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he sought legal advice prior to the decision to postpone the scheduled 2026 local elections.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity RelationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he will publish the Community Cohesion Strategy.
Answer: The Department published its Pride in Place Strategy in September 2025, setting out this government‘s plan to create safer, healthier neighbourhoods where communities can thrive. It sets out how we will deliver a step change in how we support communities ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether district elections in one area can go ahead if another district in the reorganisation area has requested postponement due to capacity issues in areas in which Mayoral ele
Answer: The Secretary of State will take his decision on whether or not to postpone a council’s elections having regard to any views provided by councils, together with any other representations received. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he briefed leaders of upper-tier local authorities on the Government’s decision to postpone mayoral elections in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent
Answer: I spoke to leaders in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent and Sussex and Brighton following the announcement of funding and next steps for the devolution agreements that are being developed through the Devolution Priority Programm...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the cost to councils in the mayoral areas of Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent, and Sussex & Brighton for election preparati
Answer: We remain committed to the long-term funding offer to all Devolution Priority Programme areas announced on 4 December. We will provide £1 million mayoral capacity funding for all areas following the laying of the secondary legislation, and a minimum of £3...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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