Zöe Franklin MP: written questions 2025
155 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Child Maintenance Service: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Child Maintenance Service late payment fees being deducted from maintenance payments on receiving parents and children.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not charge late payment fees. It does charge fees to paying parents and receiving parents who are on the Collect and Pay service: twenty per cent on top of the maintenance liability for the paying parent and four p...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62003More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service is required to justify delays in its decision-making processes.
Answer: Child Maintenance customers can use the online service to track the progress of reported changes and view expected completion dates at any time without the need to call. They can also upload evidence and view any letters which have been sent to them. All ...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62002More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Child Maintenance Service takes to provide clear explanations and evidence when rejecting claims submitted by paying parents.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) trains caseworkers in making effective decisions, which includes explaining decisions effectively to customers and issuing letters containing information about the different factors considered and rules applied when mak...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) accuracy and (b) transparency of Special Expenses calculations by the Child Maintenance Service for (i) flights, (ii) fuel and (iii) ot
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions and Child Maintenance Service rigorously monitors accuracy as part of our service ambition to further reduce error and increase our accuracy levels. The National Audit Office set a target of monetary value errors under...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that timeframes imposed by the Child Maintenance Service are (a) proportionate and (b) matched by equivalent service standards within the Department.
Answer: We have interpreted your question to refer to the timescales the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) uses in progressing cases. The CMS inform customers of expected timeframes for actions to be completed when changes are reported or require progressing. Cust...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) responsiveness and (b) accountability of the Child Maintenance Service when people request clarification of figures used in their assessments.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service are wholly committed to delivering the best possible service to all customers within our growing caseload. To ensure calculations are accurate the department continues to build on its already proportionate and cost-effective ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisual Arts: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Contemporary Visual Arts Network England’s report entitled, Framing the Future: The Political Case for Strengthening the Visual Arts Ecosystem, published on 7 May 2025, what ass
Answer: The visual arts sector provides a tremendous boost to our economy, and helps solidify the UK’s reputation as a world leader in the arts. While DCMS economic estimates do not estimate the growth of the visual arts separately from the wider arts sub-sector,...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Circular Economy Taskforce on the development of the repair and reuse economy.
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy. We have convened the Circular Economy Taskforce to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn....
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) two-child limit and (b) benefit cap on levels of child poverty among (i) children who are not eligible for (A) breakfast clubs
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. The Child Poverty Taskforce is exploring all available levers, including considering social security refo...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that babies and young children are included in the 10-Year Health Plan.
Answer: The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever.The 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service will make it fit for the future. This includes policies that will impact on babies, and young children. The pla...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: InterviewsHome OfficeTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that questions asked during asylum interviews are (a) appropriate, (b) relevant and (c) not misapplied from other (i) religious and (ii) cultural contexts.
Answer: All asylum claims made in the UK are carefully considered on their individual merits, and the guidance provided to decision makers when undertaking interviews is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conducting-the-asylum-intervi...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Mental HealthHome OfficeTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on the mental health of asylum seekers.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 May to Question 53554.
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Community DevelopmentHome OfficeTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered developing a national integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees similar to those established in Scotland and Wales.
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published on Monday 12 May, announced proposals by a wide range of reforms, including on the issue of integration and community cohesion, further details of which will be published in due course.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: AutismDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of specialist dental provision for patients with autism.
Answer: Community Dental Services (CDS) provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs, such as people with autism, and are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can access National Health Service dental care. These include hosp...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is a clear referral pathway for (a) autism and (b) ADHD assessments for children around the age of five.
Answer: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services and ref...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSlavery: Social ServicesHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the reported increase in modern slavery cases within the care sector since that sector’s inclusion on the Shortage Occupation List.
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 recordSlaveryHome 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 record
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