Zöe Franklin MP: written questions
98 published records · newest first.
Written questions
SlaveryHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the accuracy of data collection on modern slavery cases.
Answer: The Government is continually looking to improve the quality and provision of modern slavery statistics.We have recently improved and simplified the First Responders form used to refer people to the NRM, following extensive feedback from over 450 stakehol...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the practical driving test backlog on the (a) availability and (b) scheduling of theory test appointments.
Answer: Theory test availability is monitored by both the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the external service providers. Candidates wait on average no more than 28 calendar days from booking to their theory test appointment date, as per the contractual p...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the validity period of theory test pass certificates for learner drivers who are unable to book a practical driving test within the curren
Answer: It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed extension of the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will apply to British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in d...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOppression: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase protections for Hong Kongers facing transnational oppression in the UK.
Answer: While we do not comment on specific threats or targets, I can assure the Hon Member that the safety and security of Hong Kongers in the UK remains of the upmost importance.The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. On Christmas...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: ContractsMinistry of JusticeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the potential benefits of outsourcing services and providing services in-house.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring professional Facility Management services across its prison and probation estate. A 2023 assessment conducted in partnership with the Cabinet Office determined that an insourced solution was not the preferred option...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the public’s awareness of electrical goods recycling options; and what steps he plans to take to improve public awareness of those options.
Answer: The Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment regulations make producers responsible for the electrical products they place on the market when they become waste. Within that framework producers fund a not-for-profit industry body Material Focus through t...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods and Electronic Equipment: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Department has made of the effectiveness of the household waste electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme.
Answer: The January 2025 Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the WEEE regulations assess a range of measures aimed to drive up the levels of separately collected WEEE for re-use and recycling. We are considering further measures to deliver a Circular Economy, inc...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to incentivise manufacturers to design electrical products with longer lifespans to support (a) sustainabilit
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy. We have convened the Circular Economy Taskforce, composed of experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strateg...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 904437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system on British National (Overseas) visa holders.
Answer: The British National Overseas route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up British National Overseas status.We continue to uphold these commitments by supporting Bri...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Voluntary ContributionsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling early years settings to accept voluntary financial contributions from parents to (a) support and (b) enrich learning.
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.As the early years entitlements are expanded, ...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of specialist nursery and early years places for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and whether she plans to in
Answer: The department aims to set every child up to have the best start in life, and this includes delivering access to high quality early education and childcare for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Local authorities have a duty ...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the accuracy of financial viability assessments used in the planning process.
Answer: The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. As part of this commitment, we are reviewing Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on viability...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee entitled The Government’s vision for far
Answer: The Secretary of State and Minister Zeichner met the Committee recently and had the chance to discuss this Government’s approach to farming policy at that time. The Secretary of State’s oral evidence sessions sets out the Ministerial his assessment.
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordICT: Mental HealthDepartment for EducationTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to implement (a) recommendations on guidance for parents on the effects of screen time on infants and (b) other recommendations in the former Education Committee’s Fourth Report of
Answer: The department recognises the Education Committee’s concerns about the impacts of screen time and we are committed across government to protecting children online. We have responded to the Committee’s report.The department and cross-government partners in...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Department's planned timeline is for (a) consulting on and (b) producing a youth strategy; and what engagement her Department has had with (i) faiths and (ii) faith-linked organisations
Answer: Since announcing plans for a National Youth Strategy in November 2024, DCMS has undertaken a range of engagement activities to hear directly from young people, including ministerial and MP roundtables, focus groups, workshops with young people, an online ...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the railcard scheme to all working-age people.
Answer: There are no current plans to extend the railcard scheme to all working-age people, but following the establishment of Great British Railways, it will have the opportunity to review the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of some railcards. ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: SwimmingDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that primary schools provide adequate (a) swimming and (b) water safety lessons.
Answer: Swimming and water safety is a compulsory element of the primary physical education (PE) national curriculum. The department works closely with sector organisations like Swim England and the Royal Life Saving Society, supporting schools to provide swimmin...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: Transgender PeopleDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that (a) schools and (b) educational systems provide inclusive (i) physical environments and (ii) social education for trans students.
Answer: Schools make decisions relating to the management and operation of their buildings. This includes ensuring that they comply with the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 or the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, for local aut...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPlants: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Convention (UPOV 91) on small farmin
Answer: The UK is a contracting party of the 1991 convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, known as UPOV. Under UPOV 1991, the UK has an effective plant variety protection system in place providing intellectual property...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Products: Overseas TradeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support farmers to trade with other countries.
Answer: The Government is focused on supporting trade opportunities for the UK’s world class agri-food sector. We are working hard to secure new agreements, including an SPS agreement with the EU, and to resolve export barriers. Our network of 16 agri-food attach...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPoisons: SalesHome OfficeTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to introduce legal obligations on retailers based outside Great Britain to report transactions with people in the UK involving substances regulated under the Poisons Act 1972 th
Answer: The reporting function under the Poisons Act 1972 applies to retailers in Great Britain only.Upon importation Border Force does, however, have the powers to seize or detain if regulated explosive precursors or poisons that do not have the requisite licenc...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Nitrate: SalesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to introduce restrictions on purchasing sodium nitrate in quantities that pose a significant risk to (a) self harm and (b) life.
Answer: We are committed to implementing our suicide prevention strategy for England, which sets out priority areas and key actions to address the risk factors contributing to suicide and self-harm. Tackling methods of suicide and self-harm is one of these priori...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Nitrate: RegulationHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will consider mandating the use of declaration of use forms for suppliers of sodium nitrate.
Answer: The Poisons Act 1972 sets out the legal obligations in relation to the sale, purchase, and use of explosives precursors and poisons for suppliers, professional users, and members of the public.The Poisons Act was amended in October 2023 to strengthen cont...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Nitrate: RegulationHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to take steps to (a) reduce public access to sodium nitrate and (b) raise awareness among suppliers of the potential dangers associated with its misuse.
Answer: The Poisons Act 1972 sets out the legal obligations in relation to the sale, purchase, and use of explosives precursors and poisons for suppliers, professional users, and members of the public.The Poisons Act was amended in October 2023 to strengthen cont...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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