Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Aviation: Exhaust EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2275More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on its considerations of the recommendations of the report by the Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish Group, published on 17 March 2026.
Answer: The key recommendations from the Contrail Impact Mitigation (CIM) Task and Finish Group report were for Government to support large-scale trials and help establish a permanent governance body to oversee trial activity and standardise procedures and activi...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Certification Agency: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has considered the evidence provided from the recent consultation on the Vehicle Certification Agency's fees and charges; and whether it plans to increase those fees during this parliamen
Answer: The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is currently analysing responses to its recent consultation on fees. Any fee changes require the consent of this House through a fee order. As is the standard practice, I will update the House in due course.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the findings of the Net Zero Ports call for evidence.
Answer: We will publish our findings later this year.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordMaritime and Coastguard Agency: Codes of PracticeDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 126329, when her Department plans to publish the revised MCA Rescue Boat Code.
Answer: The MCA remains committed to the development of the replacement to the Rescue Boat Code and is actively engaging with rescue boat organisations, HM Coastguard, and other industry stakeholders to finalise the draft. Feedback received from industry stakehol...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 123169, when she expects to issue a Long Term Rail Strategy.
Answer: The Long-Term Rail Strategy (LTRS) will be published shortly following the Railways Bill receiving Royal Assent and in time for GBR's day-one stand-up.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2139More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which month National Highways’ RIS3 Delivery Plan will be published.
Answer: National Highways intends to publish its Delivery Plan for RIS3 this summer.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish a breakdown of the Roads Investment Strategy 3 budget allocated to (a) Designated Funds and (b) National Programmes prior to the publication of National Highways’ Delivery Plan.
Answer: National Highways will set out further detail on funding for Designated Funds and National Programmes in its Strategic Business Plan and Delivery Plan for 2026–31.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail LineDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department expects the first EWR services between Oxford and Milton Keynes to commence.
Answer: The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first East-West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central via Winslow. Appointment of Chiltern Railways as operator was delayed...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: MotorcyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 17 April 2026 to Question 125274, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to end the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant on UK manufacturing.
Answer: Ending the £500 per vehicle Plug-in Motorcycle Grant is not expected to have a significant impact on the zero emission motorcycle market. The Government continues to work with industry to monitor the development of the zero emission motorcycle market and ...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSouth Africa: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123722, what meetings with a) officials and b) ministers are scheduled.
Answer: The nature of our dialogue with close overseas partners, both at Ministerial and Official level, is such that not every routine bilateral engagement is scheduled in advance, but we will always of course inform Parliament if there are significant exchanges...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordG20Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, where the G20 Summit in 2027 will take place.
Answer: Details of next year's UK-hosted G20 summit will be announced in the usual way in due course.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAirports: CyclingDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 127548, what role her Department plays in balancing aviation growth by improving cycling facilities.
Answer: The Department sets out the policy framework within which airports operate and supports investment in sustainable travel infrastructure where appropriate. Active Travel England's Ports and Airports Employment Accessibility Fund allocates some funding to i...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordLanguages: GCE A-level and GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which modern foreign languages are available as GCSE and A level qualifications in England; which European languages are not available as GCSE and A level qualifications; and what criteria are used by her Depar
Answer: French, German and Spanish are the most widely taught modern foreign languages at GCSE and A level. In addition, qualifications are available in up to 15 languages at GCSE and 15 languages at A level. The table below outlines the languages that are taught...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordFreezing of Assets: RussiaTreasuryTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2127More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential use of frozen Russian sovereign assets and funds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club to support Ukraine.
Answer: While I am unable to comment on private Cabinet or committee discussions, I can assure you that the Government is doing everything within its powers to ensure that the full proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club are used for humanitarian purposes...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Prisoners of WarForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has considered imposing targeted sanctions on Russian judges, prosecutors and other officials involved in the prosecution and sentencing of Ukrainian p
Answer: Together with our international partners, we have already imposed on Russia the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. However, it is the UK's long-standing policy not to speculate about any future sanctions designat...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Prisoners of WarForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with international partners to secure International Committee of the Red Cross access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia, includ
Answer: Russia must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, in its treatment of prisoners of war. Under the Geneva Conventions, all parties must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross safe, u...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Mobile BroadbandDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment Network Rail has made of the adequacy of existing trackside infrastructure, including GSM-R masts and overhead line stanchions, for use by mobile network operators and private 5G providers; and
Answer: Network Rail is exploring options for the shared use of its existing trackside telecommunications infrastructure, including through programmes such as the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and Project Reach. This includes undertaking stud...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed Two: ExpenditureDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has HS2 Limited undertaken on public affairs companies since 4 July 2024; and for what purposes.
Answer: Since 4 July 2024 HS2 Ltd has spent £212,200 on external public affairs support. This has focused on supporting HS2 Ltd and its senior leadership on communications strategy and stakeholder engagement.The spend refers to 5 contracts, which were signed on 2...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: ExpenditureDepartment for TransportTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has East West Rail undertaken on public affairs companies since 4 July 2024; and for what purposes.
Answer: In April 2024, East West Rail (EWR) took out a contract for external support with political engagement, to the value of £366,615. It now no longer uses external support for public affairs activity. This particular contract lasted from July 2024 to Septemb...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124885, in which month does her Department estimate that the DVSA will meet the level of driving examiners required to reduce the average waiting time f
Answer: It is not possible to predict the specific month in which the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will have enough examiners to reduce car practical driving test waiting times to seven weeks. Any such estimate would be subject to a wide range of un...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordKatharine BirbalsinghDepartment for EducationTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39574 on Katharine Birbalsingh, when the final note was shared.
Answer: In line with Cabinet Office guidance on circulating minutes, published under the previous administration, meeting notes should be shared in the days following the meeting. The meeting with Katharine Birbalsingh followed this approach.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ChildcareMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion was the change in average fees for his Department's sites offering childcare compared to 2024-25.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not hold fee information related to UK based childcare centrally, and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Childcare provision in the UK Defence estate is typically delivered by third-parties, with contractual...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Prisoners of WarForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her Russian counterpart on reports by the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine that 95 per cent of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by
Answer: The UK continues to raise our serious concerns about these reports of widespread torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the international stage. We strongly condemn any torture or ill-treatment of prisoners of war, and we continue to make clear that suc...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Highways: ExpenditureDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure National Highways has undertaken on i) public affairs and ii) lobbying companies since 4 July 2024; and for what purposes.
Answer: From July 2024 to 18 May 2026, National Highways spent £280,921 on its technical professional services’ public affairs contract. This contract supports National Highways’ duties as a public body to ensure that a wide range of national and regional represe...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the status is of the NHS investigation into inappropriate wording referring to the potential benefits of cousin marriage; and whether the outcome of that investigation has resulted in amendmen
Answer: The medical evidence is clear that first cousin marriages are high risk, and we know the genetic defects and harm that they can cause. The Department has worked with NHS England to understand how previous materials that referred to the potential benefits ...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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