Zöe Franklin MP: written questions 2025
155 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Listed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing to a one-off relief package within the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to support (a) churches and (b) cathedrals in a
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport funds listed places of worship through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. This is as generous as we are able to be within existing resources. We have no plans to set up a new grant scheme or package of s...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend free bus passes for over 60s across England.
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statuto...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Workers: RegistrationDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has plans to increase registration fees for social workers.
Answer: As set out in the Children and Social Work Act 2017, Social Work England (SWE) is responsible for setting the level of the registration fee for social workers. Before determining the level of any fee, including any change, SWE must both consult publicly a...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWorkplace Pensions: InflationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to require profitable companies to increase pre-1997 occupational pensions in line with inflation.
Answer: Members of defined benefit pension schemes with non-indexed pre-1997 pension accrued, are now understandably concerned at seeing inflation erode the value of their retirement income. The Government’s recently announced reforms on the use of surpluses in d...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOff-payroll Working: Small BusinessesTreasuryTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41303More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure off-payroll working rules support (a) entrepreneurs and (b) small business growth.
Answer: The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees, but through their own company, pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) as those who are directly employe...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPrimary Care: Transgender PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of treatment of trans patients in primary care; and whether those patients receive adequate treatment for biological health needs.
Answer: It is important that all patients, including transgender patients, feel comfortable and confident in accessing primary care services.The Government is committed to ensuring that transgender patients receive the care and support they need when accessing Na...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Council TaxMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure serving personnel who are posted away on operational duties and have a property in the UK are able to receive council tax discounts; and how his Department ensures pe
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) pays a tax-free allowance called Council Tax Relief for certain Service personnel on specified operations or assignments. In 2011, the MOD doubled the rate from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, under the auspices of the Armed Forc...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that adults with autism are not placed in accommodation that disrupts access to established support networks.
Answer: Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes encouraging a wide range of service provision to ensure that people have a choice of appropriate s...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that rental prices remain affordable; and whether she has considered mechanisms to stabilise rents.
Answer: Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England ...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBand Keratopathy: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of availability of non-surgical treatments for Band Keratopathy on the NHS; and if he will consider expanding access to laser treatment as an alternative to
Answer: No specific assessment has yet been made by the Department on the level of availability of non-surgical treatments for band keratopathy and access to laser treatment. However, the Government is committed to innovation in elective care, so that patients ha...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal ProceedingsHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with police forces on supporting families in relation to criminal cases that have been open for over a decade.
Answer: Under the Victims' Code all victims, including a close relative of a person whose death was directly caused by a criminal offence, are entitled to be referred to support services when they report a crime.The Ministry of Justice provides Police and Crime C...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEpilepsy: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) help tackle shortages of epilepsy medication and (b) ensure patients have consistent access to their prescribed treatment.
Answer: The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, most issues, including with c...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAssessments: TheftDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of introducing a specific offence for the sale of stolen exam board papers.
Answer: Ofqual, the independent regulator for qualifications, exams and assessments in England, are clear in their guidance issued to schools, colleges and students about the importance of exam security and the repercussions of committing any form of malpractice....
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason eligibility dates for free childcare provision are set from 1 April rather than aligning with the tax year ending on 5 April; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the el
Answer: The entitlements work on a termly basis, so children become eligible from the term after they reach the relevant age and/or after they or their parents meet the eligibility criteria. Terms begin on 1 September, 1 January or 1 April. Therefore, depending o...
Answered 29 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take to improve (a) service quality and (b) fares for passengers once South Western Railway is under public control.
Answer: As operators transition to public ownership, improving rail service quality will remain a crucial priority for this government. The Department holds train operators to account for their performance by regularly measuring and monitoring core quality standa...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support more people with disabilities to (a) enter and (b) remain in the workplace; and what plans she has to improve access to (i) employment opportunities and (ii) workplac
Answer: Appropriate work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordActive TravelDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of prioritising active transport schemes.
Answer: The Government recognises the merits of prioritising investment in active travel schemes to support its economic growth, health and net zero missions. Active travel can help to revitalise high streets, enable people to live longer, healthier lives and red...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the debate following her oral statement of 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, column 780, if she will meet the hon. Me
Answer: It is for Surrey councils to develop a proposal or proposals in line with the criteria and guidance set out in the invitation. This should include for Surrey, as an area covering a council in Best Value intervention, demonstrating how reorganisation may c...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordM25: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide support to local businesses potentially impacted by delays to the completion of M25 junction 10 works.
Answer: The project has been delayed due to a number of factors. Severe weather, with unexpected heavy rainfall since October 2023 caused poor ground conditions. This postponed planned winter work and required a redesign of embankments and drainage. Additionally,...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordM25: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason hon. Members representing local constituencies were recently informed of delays to the completion of M25 junction 10 works; and what the cost to the public purse is of those delays.
Answer: The project has been delayed due to a number of factors. Severe weather, with unexpected heavy rainfall since October 2023 caused poor ground conditions. This postponed planned winter work and required a redesign of embankments and drainage. Additionally,...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Teaching AidsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to increase access to audio-based learning resources in schools.
Answer: The department respects the autonomy of teachers in terms of what resources they choose to use or recommend to their individual pupils, based on individual need in their own educational context and circumstances.
Answered 29 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will reconsider its decision not to provide compensation to women born in the 1950s and 1960s following the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendation that those affec
Answer: We carefully considered the Ombudsman’s findings to ensure our decision was fair and based on the evidence. We have accepted the Ombudsman’s finding that there was a 28-month delay in sending out letters and for this we have apologised. However, we do not...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Dysphoria: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the difference in waiting times for gender dysphoria treatment between England and Wales.
Answer: The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee commissions gender identity services for children and young people from NHS England. There are no plans to assess the difference in waiting times for specialist gender services for adults between England and Wal...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRadio: CompetitionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of Ofcom's role in regulating the BBC's impact on fair and effective competition in radio.
Answer: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the government. It has a responsibility under its Royal Charter to have particular regard for the effects of its activities on competition in the United Kingdom. This includes requirements to work co...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeart Diseases: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve access to cardiac screening for people aged 14 to 35 years including (a) at university (b) grassroots sports clubs.
Answer: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 in 2019 and concluded that screening should not be offered. The committee’s review is available at the following link:https:/...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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