Zöe Franklin MP: written questions
195 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Police: PayHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of pay levels on morale among police contact centre staff.
Answer: The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police st...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: PayHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that pay for police contact centre staff reflects regional variations in the cost of living, including in Surrey.
Answer: The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police st...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: PayHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether pay for police contact centre staff is sufficient to support recruitment and retention in high-cost areas such as Surrey.
Answer: The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police st...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCataracts: SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the contractual requirements that apply to independent sector providers delivering NHS-funded cataract surgery, including whether they are required to accept an appropriate case
Answer: Independent sector providers are commissioned and managed by integrated care boards (ICBs) under the terms of the NHS Standard Contract which applies the same standards of oversight and regulation as are applied to National Health Service providers.In the...
Answered 24 Apr 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 recordPharmacy: Hearing ImpairmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support community pharmacies to improve accessibility for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or living with dual sensory loss; and whether he is taking steps to suppor
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of ensuring community pharmacy services are safe and accessible to all patients, including those with sensory impairments. In addition to legal requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFly-tipping and Landfill TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of landfill tax rates on levels of fly-tipping; and whether she has made a comparative assessment of (a) revenue generated from lan
Answer: The Government does not have a legal duty to clear illegally dumped waste and is not funded to do so. The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of landfill tax rates on levels of fly-tipping, neither has it made a comparative assessmen...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDeath Certificates: Fees and ChargesHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered introducing reduced fees or fee waivers for additional copies of death certificates purchased at the same time.
Answer: Civil registration fees, including those for issuing certificates, are set at a level to recover the full cost of delivering the service in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money Principles.Registration officials can waive, reduce, or refund any fe...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDeath Certificates: Fees and ChargesHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential cost of obtaining certified copies of death certificates from the General Register Office; and whether she has plans to review those fees.
Answer: Civil registration fees, including those for issuing certificates, are set at a level to recover the full cost of delivering the service in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money Principles. All fees are reviewed to prevent them falling below cost ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHospices: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of regional variation in access to children’s hospice services; and what steps he is taking to ensure equitable provision across England.
Answer: Whilst the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including children and young people’s hospices, also play in providing ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTickets: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126438More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made the potential merits of a temporary cut to VAT, based on grassroots music venue capacity, to stimulate grassroots music activity.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services, including event tickets. VAT is charged on the total price paid by the consumer, and any additional charges or levies applied prior to sale would generally ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTickets: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126437More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will take steps to ensure that VAT collected on the grassroots ticket levy does not reduce funding intended for grassroots music venues.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services, including event tickets. VAT is charged on the total price paid by the consumer, and any additional charges or levies applied prior to sale would generally ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTickets: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126436More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consideration she has given to the VAT treatment of the proposed grassroots ticket levy on arena and stadium concerts.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services, including event tickets. VAT is charged on the total price paid by the consumer, and any additional charges or levies applied prior to sale would generally ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues: VATDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on reducing VAT for grassroots music venues.
Answer: The Government keeps all tax policy under review, however we have no current plans to introduce a temporary cut to Value Added Tax (VAT) on tickets based on venue capacity. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20% standard rate applies to most...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SuicideDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of the pace of its ongoing investigation of a suicide forum that grooms users to die by suicide.
Answer: The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums. Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fu...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SuicideDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of its powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to tackle a suicide forum linked to over 135 UK deaths.
Answer: The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums. Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fu...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of Ofcom’s ability to implement interim business disruption measures; and whether it is her assessment that that this system is proving effective at preven
Answer: Ofcom’s online safety budget and expert team ensure its duties can be performed effectively. Ofcom has spent approximately £281.3 million on online safety since 2020, including a projected spend of £92 million for 2025/26.The Online Safety Act provides Of...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SuicideDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Ofcom's sufficient powers and resources to tackle a specific website linked to over 135 UK deaths and to prevent future sites with the
Answer: The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums. Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fu...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SuicideDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken to help stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 deaths in this country following her meeting action with a group of the bere
Answer: The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums. Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fu...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: TrainingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of Government-funded AI training courses.
Answer: The government is committed to building a digitally skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth, drive innovation and expand individual opportunity. As part of this ambition, DSIT has launched the AI Skills Boost campaign to upskill 10 million ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: TrainingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department holds on participation and completion rates for Government-funded AI training courses.
Answer: The government is committed to building a digitally skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth, drive innovation and expand individual opportunity. As part of this ambition, DSIT has launched the AI Skills Boost campaign to upskill 10 million ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: TrainingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what processes are in place to assess the performance of external providers commissioned to deliver Government-funded AI training courses.
Answer: The government is committed to building a digitally skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth, drive innovation and expand individual opportunity. As part of this ambition, DSIT has launched the AI Skills Boost campaign to upskill 10 million ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNoise: SafetyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help prevent noise-induced hearing damage and tinnitus at live music events; and whether he is considering (a) guidance and (b) regulation to promote saf
Answer: There is no specific legislation setting limits for the audience exposure to noise and the Government has no plans to legislate further in this area at present. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides advice for when noise levels are expec...
Answered 20 Apr 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 recordAstronomy and Space: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on proposed reductions to funding for astronomy and space science; and what assessment she has made of th
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI. The overall Government spend on R&D over the next 4 years is ...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →