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.
25 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Prisoners' Transfers: Sexual OffencesMinistry of JusticeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of prisoner transfer arrangements for serious sexual offenders.
Answer: This Government is committed to deporting foreign national offenders through every means available, including Prisoner Transfers. In the year ending March 2026 deportations of FNOs, including murderers and rapists, were up 13% compared to the previous yea...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordJudicial ReviewMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of legal aid public law solicitors on an individual's ability to bring Judicial Review proceedings within the current three-month time limit.
Answer: Under Civil Procedure Rules Part 54, judicial review claims must be filed promptly and no later than three months after the grounds for the claim first arose, subject to shorter statutory time limits in particular areas such as planning cases.Claimants ca...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordJudicial ReviewMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the three-month time limit for applying for Judicial Review in cases where applicants are unable to secure legal representation within that period.
Answer: Under Civil Procedure Rules Part 54, judicial review claims must be filed promptly and no later than three months after the grounds for the claim first arose, subject to shorter statutory time limits in particular areas such as planning cases.Claimants ca...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: Family CourtsMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of average waiting times for fact-finding hearings in the family courts; and what steps he is taking to reduce those waiting times.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving the performance of the Family Courts, and the Family Justice Board has agreed system-wide priorities and targets for reducing delay across England and Wales. While we do not have specific figures for the timelines...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to prevent individuals subject to active civil court orders from receiving Legal Aid.
Answer: Anyone can receive civil legal aid, provided that their case is in scope of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and they pass the applicable means and merits tests, along with any necessary evidence requirements.Criminal...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to monitor and evaluate the adequacy of Legal Aid funding awarded under the Schedule 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
Answer: Schedule 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) describes the civil services in scope of legal aid under s.9 LASPO.In January 2023, the Ministry of Justice launched a comprehensive Review of Civil Legal Aid (RoCLA), to...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to address the funding anomaly whereby Legal Aid funding may be granted to alleged or confirmed perpetrators rather than judicially recognised victims.
Answer: Anyone can receive civil legal aid, provided that their case is in scope of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and they pass the applicable means and merits tests, along with any necessary evidence requirements.Criminal...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguards are in place to ensure that Legal Aid awarded under the LASPO Schedule 1 pathway is provided solely to individuals who have been judicially recognised as victims.
Answer: Anyone can receive civil legal aid, provided that their case is in scope of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and they pass the applicable means and merits tests, along with any necessary evidence requirements.Criminal...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCustodyMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of safeguarding practices on requiring parents to seek retrospective court remedies.
Answer: This Government is committed to protecting children from harm. The Children Act 1989 sets out specific duties for local authorities to provide services to children in their area if they are in need and to undertake enquiries if they believe a child has su...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCustodyMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has considered introducing a requirement for automatic judicial oversight within a fixed timeframe where state bodies facilitate a significant change in a child’s living arrangements as part of safegua
Answer: This Government is committed to protecting children from harm. The Children Act 1989 sets out specific duties for local authorities to provide services to children in their area if they are in need and to undertake enquiries if they believe a child has su...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCustodyMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether national guidance permits (a) police forces and (b) local authority Children’s Services to facilitate a material change in a child’s place of residence without prior court authorisation where one parent w
Answer: This Government is committed to protecting children from harm. The Children Act 1989 sets out specific duties for local authorities to provide services to children in their area if they are in need and to undertake enquiries if they believe a child has su...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: ReformMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made in considering the Law Commission’s 2022 recommendation to regulate officiants rather than venues, and how independent celebrants are being considered within that approach.
Answer: The Government recognises the contribution that independent celebrants make to the wedding industry and will be seeking their views amongst a range of others to inform the consultation paper.As part of the consultation, we will invite views on the introdu...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: ReformMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Department plans to consult directly with independent celebrants as part of the development of marriage law reform.
Answer: The Government recognises the contribution that independent celebrants make to the wedding industry and will be seeking their views amongst a range of others to inform the consultation paper.As part of the consultation, we will invite views on the introdu...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: ReformMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether independent celebrants will be explicitly included within the scope of the forthcoming marriage law reform proposals.
Answer: The Government recognises the contribution that independent celebrants make to the wedding industry and will be seeking their views amongst a range of others to inform the consultation paper.As part of the consultation, we will invite views on the introdu...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil ProceedingsMinistry of JusticeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Civil Procedure Rules.
Answer: The Civil Procedure Rules provide a framework for a fair, transparent, efficient and proportionate civil justice system. The Rules are regularly updated to support court services, to reflect wider changes in legislation and societal need, and in response ...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMatrimonial Proceedings: Domestic AbuseMinistry of JusticeTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are not required to bear additional financial or procedural burdens in order to progress divorce proceedings when the other party fails
Answer: It is a matter of concern that perpetrators of domestic abuse may fail to engage with divorce proceedings. The courts have powers to deal with parties who fail to engage, including to make orders confirming a perpetrator has received a divorce application...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMatrimonial Proceedings: Domestic AbuseMinistry of JusticeTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made, as part of his Department’s responsibilities for access to justice and the protection of victims of domestic abuse, of the risk that delays caused by a non-engaging spouse in divorce
Answer: It is a top priority for this Government to tackle violence against women and girls, including economic abuse and coercive control. The Law Commission’s 2024 scoping report on financial remedies on divorce considered the issue of domestic abuse in financi...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordProbation Service: SecurityMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using scanning machines in probation offices to detect weapons; and what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of probation officers in the workplace.
Answer: The safety of probation staff is our priority, and we are committed to taking action to protect them. Following a comprehensive review of health, safety, and security across all probation premises, we are urgently implementing measures to strengthen prote...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLegal Profession: JudgementsMinistry of JusticeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the judgment in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 on Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice recognises that the judgment and its potential implications have created concern and uncertainty within parts of the legal profession, particularly among Chartered Institute of Legal Executive (CILEX) professionals.Whilst the legal...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPrimodosMinistry of JusticeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that families affected by Primodos are not prevented from pursuing legal redress due to the potential risk of high legal costs.
Answer: The Government cannot comment on individual legal cases, but we are committed to access to justice at proportionate cost. There are several mechanisms that can reduce the legal costs involved in pursuing a civil claim. Whether any are available to a claim...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPowers of Attorney and ProbateMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to improve oversight mechanisms for (a) executors and (b) attorneys under Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Answer: A wide range of safeguards are available in legislation to hold executors accountable for the performance of their duties in administering the estate of a deceased person. Protections for beneficiaries if executors are incapable of fulfilling their duties...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordProbateMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguards exist for beneficiaries when executors are (a) incapable of fulfilling their duties and (b) abusing their position.
Answer: A wide range of safeguards are available in legislation to hold executors accountable for the performance of their duties in administering the estate of a deceased person. Protections for beneficiaries if executors are incapable of fulfilling their duties...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Terminal IllnessesMinistry of JusticeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Personal Independence Payment appeals for claimants awarded under the Special Rules for terminal illness are prioritised (a) when a PIP award has been removed de
Answer: The listing of appeals is a matter for the Tribunal’s independent judiciary. Appeals are usually listed in chronological order based on the date of receipt.If an expedited hearing is sought, or where the Tribunal identifies a case which might benefit from...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung Offender Institutions: Pepper SprayMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the safety of the use of PAVA spray in youth offender institutions.
Answer: In April 2025, the Government announced a limited rollout of PAVA incapacitant spray in the three young offender institutions (YOIs) for 15 to 18-year-olds (Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham A). It was determined that this was a necessary measure to protec...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCourts: Translation ServicesMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66053More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of outsourcing interpreter and translation services for court proceedings; and what steps she has taken to ensure (i)
Answer: The Department has recently undertaken a re-procurement of its interpreter and translation service under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. These regulations mandate that public bodies aggregate expenditure on classes of goods and services and ensure ...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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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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