Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the automatic addition of service charges to customer bills.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCCA) Act 2024 requires traders to display prices inclusive of all taxes and unavoidable charges before payment is made. Prices must be accurate and not misleading. Failure to do this may be taken as an unfair trading practice and constitute an offence.
It should always be clear on the bill, or in communication with staff, whether any tip automatically added to the bill is optional or mandatory for the consumer to pay. If it is an optional payment, there should be no pressure to agree it.
Customers can be assured that all tips, gratuities and service charges must be passed on the workers who have earned them, rather than being retained by employers.
The department does not have any plans to introduce further legislation on this matter.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to review evidence on chemical exposure from plastic baby products, including feeding bottles, dummies and teethers; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the regulatory framework for those products.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government takes the safety of baby products seriously and has robust regulations in place requiring that all products placed on the UK market are safe. Specific rules exist under product safety and chemicals regulations, to address chemical exposure from plastic baby products, and these are kept under review.
More generally, the Government's consultation on reforming the core Product Safety Framework closed on 23 June 2026, and we will be considering all feedback received as part of that process, including any evidence presented on the regulation of these products.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the use of provisional licence holders riding mopeds displaying learner plates (L-plates) to undertake commercial delivery work; and whether she plans to introduce measures to prevent individuals who have not passed a full motorcycle test from carrying out such work.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government expects those driving or riding for work to keep both themselves and other road users safe. As such we have committed to piloting a new voluntary Work-Related Road Safety Charter that is being developed in partnership with industry. The Charter will be informed by existing schemes such as Driving for Better Business and encourage everyone involved in driving or riding for work to improve road safety. That includes delivery drivers riding mopeds.
The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) consultation on improving moped and motorcycle training, testing and licensing closed on 11 May. The consultation was launched with a range of measures designed to support a targeted review of the training, testing and licensing framework for motorcyclists, and the aim of improving safety and modernising and simplifying access to motorcycling. In part, reforms aim to encourage progression to full licences, particularly for those riding for work. We are now analysing the responses and will publish the outcome of the consultation on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made towards delivering the Government's commitment to provide universal access to Fracture Liaison Services by 2030; and when he plans to publish a timetable setting out the key milestones for implementation.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) remain well placed to make decisions according to local need.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expectation that ICBs prioritise community-based models when commissioning new fracture prevention services.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the implementation plan for delivering the Government's commitment to provide universal access to Fracture Liaison Services across England by 2030.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) remain well placed to make decisions according to local need.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expectation that ICBs prioritise community-based models when commissioning new fracture prevention services.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current statutory framework for parish councillors.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government believes that the current statutory framework for parish councillors is proportionate and adequate. When parliamentary time allows, the Government intends to introduce legislation for a range of measures to create a clearer and consistently applied standards and conduct system that will help local elected members to hold themselves and their colleagues to account.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether clause 2 of the Armed Forces Bill includes a Foundation Strategic Authority within the definition of a local authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Clause two of the Armed Forces Bill includes unitary authorities and Foundation Strategic Authorities in England within the definition of a Local Authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006. This is because each one is legally classified as either a county council, a district council, a combined authority, or a combined county authority, all of which are listed in section 343AZB(3).
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether clause 2 of the Armed Forces Bill includes a unitary authority within the definition of a local authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Clause two of the Armed Forces Bill includes unitary authorities and Foundation Strategic Authorities in England within the definition of a Local Authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006. This is because each one is legally classified as either a county council, a district council, a combined authority, or a combined county authority, all of which are listed in section 343AZB(3).
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the continued difference in survivor pension entitlements between the Police Pension Scheme 1987 and the 2006 and 2015 Police Pension Schemes in relation to remarriage and cohabitation.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Serving police officers have access to the 2015 police pension scheme, which provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. All eligible police officers have had an opportunity to join a pension scheme with life-long survivor benefits, since the introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme.
For officers who joined policing prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.
The 1987 scheme was not costed to provide these extended benefits, and retrospectively changing the scheme would create significant additional costs for current officers and taxpayers. The 1987 police pension scheme is now a closed scheme, superseded by the 2015 scheme, and there are no plans to make further improvements to the benefits accrued under it.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of prisoner transfer arrangements for serious sexual offenders.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government is committed to deporting foreign national offenders through every means available, including Prisoner Transfers. In the year ending March 2026 deportations of FNOs, including murderers and rapists, were up 13% compared to the previous year, with more than 5,800 removed.