Every parliamentary written question tabled by Zöe Franklin this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 221–240 of 295 · this parliament
Whether her Department has considered developing a national integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees similar to those established in Scotland and Wales.
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.
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.
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 stakeholders. These changes will have a direct and positive impact on the accuracy of data collection, as well as improve the quality of referrals.
What steps her Department is taking to improve the accuracy of data collection on modern slavery cases.
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 stakeholders. These changes will have a direct and positive impact on the accuracy of data collection, as well as improve the quality of referrals.
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.
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 performance measures.Capacity in the theory test centre network is managed using demand forecasting, and ongoing monitoring of tests booked into the 210 test centres in the network across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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 current two-year period due to delays in test availability.
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 place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.Ensuring learner drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the learning to drive process as new drivers are disproportionately casualties on our roads. Learners therefore need to pass another theory test if their two-year theory test certificate expires.
What steps she is taking to increase protections for Hong Kongers facing transnational oppression in the UK.
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 Eve, the Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the Hong Kong police’s targeting of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression. FCDO officials have raised concerns directly with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. This year, the Foreign Secretary and Minister West met with individuals affected by the latest round of arrest warrants and bounties placed on them by the Hong Kong Police Force.The UK Government has developed a range of support and security assistance mechanisms to protect individuals and communities that are at risk of transnational repression. This assistance is based on threat and varied in its scope and approach, but can include tailored protective advice, cybersecurity measures, and access to broader public resources. In addition, I announced in March that training and guidance on state threats activity is now being offered by Counter Terrorism Policing to all 45 territorial police forces across the UK. This will enhance the ability of front-line police officers and staff in the identification of state-directed crimes and the actions that can be taken to escalate and mitigate this activity.Guidance can be found on GOV.UK providing those who believe themselves to be at risk of TNR with practical advice for their safety both physically and online. If individuals think they are a victim of state directed activity, they should report this to police via the established mechanisms - 101, 999, or at a local police station.
Whether the proposed extension of the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will apply to British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders.
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 due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.
Whether she has made a comparative assessment of the potential benefits of outsourcing services and providing services in-house.
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 for future prison and probation maintenance services. Financial analysis determined that an outsourced option would be more cost effective and deliver the best value for money. A programme of work has been initiated that will put in place new contracts for the provision of maintenance services for prisons and probation. These are being competitively tendered. However, this approach is kept under constant review to ensure we get the best value for taxpayers’ money.
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.
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 the WEEE Compliance Fee. Part of the funds are used for consumer awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of properly disposing of their electrical waste. A Material Focus communications campaign has helped lead to 30 million more small electrical items being recycled in 2024 compared to 2022. We are considering further measures to deliver a Circular Economy, including across electricals, as part of the circular economy strategy.
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) sustainability and (b) the circular economy.
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 Strategy will be accompanied by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis, including a roadmap for electricals and electronic equipment. While led by Defra, development of the strategy is a cross-government effort based on close collaboration between departments, including the Department for Business and Trade. Therefore, the strategy will reflect the needs and insights of industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders within the sector while improving lives up and down the country, growing our economy, and protecting our environment for generations to come.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Department has made of the effectiveness of the household waste electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme.
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, including across electricals, as part of the circular economy strategy.
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.
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 British National Overseas status holders to come to the UK through the British National Overseas route.
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 increase the number of core SEND units.
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 to secure sufficient childcare, including for children with SEND. They are expected to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting this duty and make their report available and accessible to parents.The department continues to monitor sufficiency through regular contact with local authorities. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action is being taken to address those issues and, where needed, support them through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department has published allocations for £740 million high needs capital funding in the 2025/26 financial year to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. Local authorities are free to choose to spend this across the 0-25 age range and it is ultimately up to local authorities to determine how to best prioritise their funding. Guidance published alongside the allocations encourages local authorities to use the funding to set up resourced provisions or special educational needs units in mainstream schools.Local authorities can meet the costs of children aged five and under with high needs in different ways from their high needs budget. This may include providing SEND support directly as a central service for young children with high needs and/or resources for early years providers to enable them to make the required provision.
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.
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, and expect to provide a further update by the end of spring. It is already the case, as set out in the viability PPG, that any viability assessment should be prepared with professional integrity by a suitably qualified practitioner and be presented in accordance with the guidance. The inputs and findings of any viability assessment should be set out in a way that aids clear interpretation and interrogation by decision makers. Reports and findings should clearly state what assumptions have been made about costs and values (including gross development value, benchmark land value including the landowner premium, developer’s return and costs). Any viability assessment should be prepared on the basis that it will be made publicly available other than in exceptional circumstances.
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 farming, HC 906, published on 16 May 2025.
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.
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.
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, it is vitally important they remain accessible and affordable for families. Paragraph A1.41 of the statutory guidance for local authorities says that they must take all steps available to ensure the entitlements are available free of charge to parents and that providers do not charge for certain types of services. This includes top up fees, materials, such as crafts, crayons and paper, business running costs, registration fees and non-refundable deposits as a condition of taking up an entitlements place, general charges and any additional fees not specifically listed and itemised as chargeable extras at A1.33. If a parent wishes to make a voluntary contribution then they can do so, provided they are not being charged for these sorts of services or items and that it is wholly voluntary.
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 Session 2023-24 entitled Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing, HC 118.
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 including the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are taking action now, based on robust evidence and good practice, to provide guidance and support to schools, children and parents. Across government we are taking strong action on regulation to ensure the technology industry is clear on the government's expectations of how they should and must support children’s safety and wellbeing. The effective implementation of the Online Safety Act is a government priority. With leadership from DSIT and Ofcom, the Act is putting in place wide reaching protections for children.There are areas where further evidence is needed, and it will also take time to understand the impact of guidance and how it could be improved in future. However, we have set out how all recommendations will be carefully considered as future actions are developed.
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 on their experience of supporting young people.
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 survey and digital postcards. Our engagement has included Muslim faith groups, Jewish Lads and Girls Clubs and Church of England representatives, among others. We have also sought representation of young people from different faiths including on the Expert and Youth Advisory Groups and through the National Youth Survey.The interim report for the National Youth Strategy - Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Nation - will be published shortly. We plan to publish the National Youth Strategy in the summer.
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.
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 authority maintained schools and academies respectively. The department’s published advice can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf.Other educational providers are also expected to fulfil their legal obligations, when drafting their policies concerning the provision of, and access to, single-sex facilities.Regarding social education, relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) seeks to equip all pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and have happy and healthy personal and social lives. The statutory guidance is clear that RSHE should be taught sensitively and inclusively.The department is currently reviewing the RSHE statutory guidance and the draft non-statutory guidance on gender questioning children. We are looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence before setting out next steps.
What steps she is taking to help ensure that primary schools provide adequate (a) swimming and (b) water safety lessons.
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 swimming and water safety lessons through teacher training and resources. This includes support for pupils with special education needs and disabilities, hosted on Swim England’s online Inclusion Hub. The PE and Sport Premium can be used by primary schools for top-up lessons for those pupils not able to meet the national curriculum outcomes after core lessons. Following public consultation, we are currently reviewing the statutory relationships, sex and health education curriculum, including looking at whether additional content on water safety should be added.