Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children attending residential special schools have received an eyesight, hearing and dental check since April 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Between 1 April 2025 and 23 January 2026, 11,485 sight tests have been conducted within a special educational setting. Data for the number of hearing and dental checks conducted is not held centrally.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department publishes a table ranking each local authority in England regarding the maintenance conditions of their roads.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department announced a new traffic light rating system on 11 January. Under this system, all local highway authorities in England received a red, amber or green rating based on the condition of their roads, how much they spend to maintain their roads, and whether they do so using best practice. The ratings can be found online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.
The ratings are not designed to provide a ranked list of local authorities, but assign authorities a rating within the broader categories of red, amber, or green. The full methodology used to calculate the ratings is also set out online. This includes a table setting out methodological detail on the individual metrics and scores used to calculate local authorities' ratings. Further detail on this can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodology-used-to-calculate-ratings-for-local-road-maintenance.
The rating system enables drivers and residents to have a clear picture of how their local highway authority is looking for after local roads for the first time. It increases transparency, incentivises the adoption of best practice, and enables the Department to identify where local highway authorities need to improve and to support them to ensure road conditions improve nationwide.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure an effective legacy from hosting UEFA Euro 2028.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Football reaches communities like nothing else, and my department is working with partners to ensure the impact of hosting EURO 2028 is felt far beyond the tournament itself. As part of the tournament launch in November 2025, I chaired a meeting attended by Ministerial representatives from the Government of Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Government, as well as UEFA, where we discussed how we can work as one team to ensure the tournament delivers an effective legacy and we maximise the benefits of hosting.
In order to ensure an effective legacy from hosting the tournament, EURO 2028 will feature the largest-ever Community Programme to be delivered for a UEFA EURO. This will be backed by a social impact fund of around £45 million. Plans for these are still in development and we will have more to share in due course.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce pull factors for migrants seeking to arrive in the UK illegally.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
In November, I announced the most significant reforms to our asylum system in a generation. They are designed to tackle the incentives that draw people to this country illegally.
o We know that the generosity of refugee status draws people here – so we are making it temporary, not permanent.
o We know the ability to work in the illegal economy lures people here – and so we are cracking down on illegal working.
o And we know that effective removals disincentive illegal entry – and returns are up 23% since this Govt took office.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered amending (a) subsection 254(5) and (b) Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has no current plans to change the list of buildings that are not considered Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) under the Housing Act 2004. We keep the regulation of HMOs under review.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving the regulations on registering as a provider of social housing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 sets out who is eligible for registration and gives the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) the power to set criteria on certain matters that landlords must meet to register with them.
RSH’s registration criteria is designed so that once registered, social housing landlords can meet ongoing regulatory requirements: to provide safe, well-maintained homes through organisation that are well governed and financially viable.
Both the Department and the Regulator engage regularly with stakeholders and remain open to receiving feedback on engaging with the registration process.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has considered providing a Changing Places toilet in Portcullis House.
Answered by Nick Smith
I can confirm we have considered the inclusion of a Changing Places toilet in Portcullis House.
The nearest Changing Places facility is in the Palace, so we fully recognise the importance of providing one in Portcullis House and are committed to exploring how best to deliver it in future. It is something we want to do and acknowledge it is needed to support accessibility and inclusion. Based on initial assessments, the most appropriate location would be on the first floor within the publicly accessible area. However, installation would require significant refurbishment and the relocation of an existing office.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of exempting people with sickle-cell anaemia from prescription charges.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to amend the list of medical conditions that provide eligibility for free prescriptions to include sickle-cell anaemia.
Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with sickle-cell anaemia may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.
People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments, allowing the holder of a 12-month certificate to get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress her Department has made on considering the proposal for Charitable Community Benefit Societies to cease being exempt charities and to allow them to (a) register with the Charities Commission and (b) access new funding opportunities in the current challenging financial context.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government is keen to ensure that the law governing co-operatives and community benefit societies is clear and supports their growth. That is why we are funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
The Law Commission review is considering ways to update and modernise the legislation for co-operatives and community benefit societies - including charitable community benefit societies - ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective.
During consultation, the Law Commission asked a question exploring whether charitable community benefit societies should continue to be exempt charities. It is currently considering feedback from stakeholders on this and other proposals.
The Law Commission expects to publish its final recommendations towards the end of 2025. The government will then carefully consider its recommendations to understand whether reform of the legislation is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Law Commission's review of legal frameworks governing (a) co-operatives and (b) community benefit societies will be published.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government is keen to ensure that the law governing co-operatives and community benefit societies is clear and supports their growth. That is why we are funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
The Law Commission review is considering ways to update and modernise the legislation for co-operatives and community benefit societies - including charitable community benefit societies - ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective.
During consultation, the Law Commission asked a question exploring whether charitable community benefit societies should continue to be exempt charities. It is currently considering feedback from stakeholders on this and other proposals.
The Law Commission expects to publish its final recommendations towards the end of 2025. The government will then carefully consider its recommendations to understand whether reform of the legislation is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.