Zöe Franklin MP: written questions
322 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture: InsuranceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with insurers on the availability of public liability insurance for diversified agricultural businesses that host members of the public as pa
Answer: The Government engages regularly with insurers and regulators on a variety of topics. The Government has not made a specific assessment regarding the availability of public liability insurance for diversified agricultural businesses. The Government would ...
Answered 19 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: InsuranceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has the Government made of the availability and affordability of public liability insurance for diversified agricultural businesses that rely on visitor income.
Answer: The Government engages regularly with insurers and regulators on a variety of topics. The Government has not made a specific assessment regarding the availability of public liability insurance for diversified agricultural businesses. The Government would ...
Answered 19 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: MusicDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the BBC charter renewal process will assess the impact of the BBC on developing (a) musical skills and (b) creative talent.
Answer: The BBC continues to hold a uniquely important role as a cornerstone of the whole of the UK’s creative economy, including playing an important role in the provision of music. As part of the Charter Review process, the Government is looking at how the BBC ...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: MusicDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the BBC’s work on (a) classical music and (b) choral singing.
Answer: The BBC continues to hold a uniquely important role as a cornerstone of the whole of the UK’s creative economy, including playing an important role in the provision of music. As part of the Charter Review process, the Government is looking at how the BBC ...
Answered 16 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 recordContact Orders: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on parents of requiring a revised court order before the Child Maintenance Service can recognise changes to shared care arrangements that are already
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a court order in all cases. The job of the CMS is to determine what contact is actually taking place and ensure that is reflected in the maintenance calculation. Where shared care arrangements are dispu...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordContact Orders: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the accessibility and affordability of requiring parents to seek repeated court orders for the Child Maintenance Service to recognise changes to child contact arrangement
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a court order in all cases. The job of the CMS is to determine what contact is actually taking place and ensure that is reflected in the maintenance calculation. Where shared care arrangements are dispu...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCrossbowsHome OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2026WithdrawnUIN 6620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of any future restrictions or ban on crossbows on legitimate sporting activities, including target archery; and what steps she will take to ensure
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: AgeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the state pension age to 60 for women and 65 for men.
Answer: The pace of State Pension age increases was hugely, and unfairly, accelerated by the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Coalition Government. The Government is required to regularly review State Pension age under the Pensions Act 2014. The Government’s thi...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAirports: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with airport operators on recent increases in terminal drop-off charges at (a) Heathrow Airport and (b) other airports; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact o
Answer: The Department for Transport regularly engages with airport operators on a range of matters, including surface access and car parking arrangements at airports. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of car parking and drop...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRomanian Language: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of the introduction of a GCSE qualification in Romanian.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting the teaching of modern foreign languages in England’s schools. Decisions about which languages to offer at GCSE in England are taken by four independent awarding organisations rather than by central government: AQ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether forthcoming leasehold reform legislation will include measures to protect residents of retirement leasehold properties from (a) excessive service charges and (b) associat
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what protections are in place for the families of deceased leaseholders of retirement properties who continue to incur service charges while a property remains unsold.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an estimate of the number of leasehold retirement properties that may be difficult for people to sell because of (a) high service charges and (b) associated f
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to protect residents of leasehold retirement properties from unaffordable increases in service charges and associated management fees.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSheltered Housing: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of service charges in leasehold retirement properties on the ability of older residents and their families to sell those prop
Answer: The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. We...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: AfghanistanHome OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce additional safe and legal routes for Afghan nationals at risk.
Answer: The Afghan schemes were never intended to operate indefinitely. On 1 July 2025, the Government announced the closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy to new principal applications, and the closure of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme....
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of directional differences in rail fares on (a) part-time workers, (b) hybrid workers and (c) self-employed commuters on the Portsmouth Direct Line.
Answer: The Government is overhauling the complex fares system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are getting the right fare. We are already delivering positive changes, including expanding pay as you go ticketing, and trialling easier to underst...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will be required to publish the justification for directional differences in rail fares on the same route.
Answer: The Government is overhauling the complex fares system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are getting the right fare. We are already delivering positive changes, including expanding pay as you go ticketing, and trialling easier to underst...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that fares set by Great British Railways are priced consistently regardless of direction of travel where there is no operational justification for differential pricing.
Answer: The Government is overhauling the complex fares system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are getting the right fare. We are already delivering positive changes, including expanding pay as you go ticketing, and trialling easier to underst...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: ComplaintsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether the complaints framework operated by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education is fit for purpose in the context of current (a) higher education tuit
Answer: The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education (HE) continues to perform well despite sustained year on year increases in the number of complaints it handles. Its latest annual report shows that over 90% of complaints were closed wit...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: Income TaxTreasuryTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4063More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has issued guidance for councillors on the application of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; and whether further guidance is planned.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answers provided in the responses to questions 89450 and 89451 Guidance, including information on who needs to sign up and what counts as qualifying income for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, is available on GOV.UK:...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: Income TaxTreasuryTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4062More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether councillors will continue to be able to claim allowable expenses against PAYE councillor income under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax; and what mechanism will apply for claiming such expenses.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answers provided in the responses to questions 89450 and 89451 Guidance, including information on who needs to sign up and what counts as qualifying income for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, is available on GOV.UK:...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: Income TaxTreasuryTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4061More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how councillor-related expenses should be reported under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax where a councillor also has self-employed or property income above the relevant threshold.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answers provided in the responses to questions 89450 and 89451 Guidance, including information on who needs to sign up and what counts as qualifying income for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, is available on GOV.UK:...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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