Oral Answers to Questions

Zöe Franklin Excerpts

Wednesday 21st October 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I do like a pint—sadly, I am spending less time in pubs these days, but I will certainly make up for that by meeting my hon. Friend and having a chat about the home of brewing in this country, Burton upon Trent. It is a proud tradition. I was sorry to hear about the potential job losses, and we will see what we can do to support my hon. Friend and his constituents.

[Zoe Franklin (Guildford) (LD)]

Q11.   At Guilford’s probation hostel, experienced staff are being refused skilled worker visa sponsorship because their salaries fall below the Government threshold, despite earning over £42,000 when essential overtime is included. I understand from local probation management that this could affect hundreds of staff across the 104 probation hostels in England and Wales at a time when probation services are already under huge pressure from the Government’s early release scheme. The Government have made special visa provision for prison officers, so why not for probation staff, who also protect the public? Will the Prime Minister review these rules urgently before experienced probation staff are lost from the service, which is already stretched to breaking point?

[The Prime Minister]

The hon. Lady is right that we have to do everything we can to support our staff in the Probation Service right now. I will ask the Justice Secretary to look at those rules and come back to her.