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 estimate her Department has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Guildford.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The specific data requested by the Hon Members is not centrally held. They may find useful information on the prevalence and treatment of respiratory conditions in their local areas at the Department’s Fingertips website, at the following link:
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profiles
In addition, the National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report, published by the UK Health Security Agency, provides weekly surveillance of respiratory virus activity in England, including hospital admission rates specifically for influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus. This is available at the following link:
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking in response to the recommendations of the Dame Annie Hudson review of social work professional regulation to reduce delays in the handling of fitness-to-practise and cause-for-concern cases by Social Work England; and what target timeframe has been set for the resolution of such cases.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Independent Review of Social Work Professional Regulation, led by Dame Annie Hudson, identified the need for sustained improvement in Social Work England’s fitness to practise function. The government accepted the review’s recommendations and has made improving timeliness and effectiveness a key priority.
Social Work England is expected to produce a robust, externally supported, end-to-end Fitness to Practise Strategic Improvement Plan, with clear milestones and performance measures to drive sustained improvement and address the issues identified by the review.
The department has strengthened its oversight of Social Work England’s performance and is closely monitoring progress. Should sufficient and sustained improvement not be demonstrated, the government will consider what further action may be appropriate.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will introduce statutory time limits for fitness-to-practise and cause-for-concern investigations by Social Work England.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government does not currently propose statutory time limits for individual cases, as its immediate priority is ensuring Social Work England delivers sustained improvements to the timeliness and effectiveness of the process.
The department recognises the importance of resolving fitness to practise cases promptly, both to protect the public and provide timely outcomes for social workers. Social Work England is the independent regulator responsible for operating fitness to practise processes.
The Independent Review of Social Work Professional Regulation identified fitness to practise as a priority for improvement. In response, the government has asked Social Work England to deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end strategic improvement plan, including revised forecasts and timeliness performance measures. The department is strengthening its oversight and monitoring progress closely.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place to review indefinite leave to remain applications that have been outstanding for more than 12 months where no formal processing service standard applies; and what steps her Department takes to communicate with affected applicants about the reasons for delays.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
All Indefinite Leave to Remain visa routes are subject to a Service Level Agreement (SLA).
The service level agreements for settlement applications are published on gov.uk and can be found here - Settlement: customer service standards - GOV.UK
A non-exhaustive list of scenarios where an application may take longer to process than the published SLA can be found here - Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK
If any application is set to fall outside the published SLA, the customer is informed of this via email outlining that their application still remains under consideration and gives examples of scenarios which may have incurred the delay. If the delay is related to further input being required from the customer this is also highlighted to them.
Where a case cannot be decided within the published service standard, it is kept under regular review to support its progression and ensure a decision is made as soon as possible.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to support sectors that do not qualify for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We understand the challenge that high industrial electricity prices present to businesses, and we are standing firm alongside industry to provide robust support.
Those ineligible for BICS may be eligible for the British Industry Supercharger which supports around 600 of the most electricity-intensive businesses by exempting them from paying the indirect costs of the Contracts for Difference, Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market, and compensates them for network charges.
The Government's clean power mission aims to achieve a zero-carbon power system by 2030 to secure domestic energy supplies, lower household and business bills, and drive economic growth.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what engagement her Department has had with non-domestic energy suppliers on the design and implementation of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has worked closely with non-domestic energy suppliers on the design and implementation of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. Engagement has included regular workshops, webinars and two formal consultations.
'The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has worked closely with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on the design and implementation of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. Engagement with non-domestic energy suppliers has included regular workshops, webinars and two formal consultations'.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the PE and Sport Premium arrangements on (a) the number of sports coaches employed by primary schools and (b) schools’ ability to participate in inter-school sporting events in the 2026-27 academic year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Whilst the PE and sport premium could be used by schools to hire external coaches to teach specialist sports and physical activities, it cannot be used to fund staff salaries.
The government has confirmed funding for the School Games Organiser Network until the end of the 2026/27 financial year, supporting schools, increasing participation and delivering inclusive school sport opportunities and competitions.
The government is investing over £1 billion in PE, school sport and physical activity through to 2029, including more than £530 million for the Partnerships Network. Our new approach will ensure funding makes a real difference in tackling inactivity and providing equal access to sport for all pupils. Support will align more closely with wider programmes and include competitive sport opportunities, extra-curricular activities and inclusive events for less‑active pupils.
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 potential impact of current waiting times in processing Student visa applications on students who have already incurred tuition and accommodation costs and whose courses have begun; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that applicants, including those who have paid for the priority service, receive decisions within published processing times.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
UKVI continued to meet published service standards for straightforward Student visa applications during the 2026 summer peak, despite sustained high demand.
Some applications require additional checks and may take longer where this is necessary to verify the information provided, assess individual circumstances or protect the integrity of the UK immigration system. Applicants will be notified if their application cannot be concluded within the published service standard.
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Sponsors can use established escalation routes where applications have exceeded published service standards and enrolment deadlines are at risk. Information on visa processing times and service standards is available at Visa processing times - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Student visa applications were decided within the published processing time in each of the last six months; and what proportion of applications made using the priority service received a decision within five working days.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
UKVI continued to meet published service standards for straightforward Student visa applications during the 2026 summer peak, despite sustained high demand.
Some applications require additional checks and may take longer where this is necessary to verify the information provided, assess individual circumstances or protect the integrity of the UK immigration system. Applicants will be notified if their application cannot be concluded within the published service standard.
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Sponsors can use established escalation routes where applications have exceeded published service standards and enrolment deadlines are at risk. Information on visa processing times and service standards is available at Visa processing times - GOV.UK.
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 potential impact of Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds on the retention of staff working in probation Approved Premises; and whether she plans to introduce transitional salary arrangements for those staff equivalent to those available to prison officers.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
A temporary arrangement is in place for prison officers allowing eligible individuals in the UK to switch into prison officer roles until 31 December 2026. The arrangement also allows people sponsored as prison officers under the concession to extend their visas for up to 3 years until the 31 December 2027.
There are no plans to add further occupations to it, including for those working in probation approved premises.