Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Businesses: AccountancyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost to businesses of transitioning from small to medium-sized company status due to accounting changes under FRS 102; and what assessment he has made of
Answer: FRS 102 is issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and the responsibility for any detailed assessment of the impact of changes in FRS 102 rests with the FRC. Impact assessments are available on the FRC’s website: Impact Assessments and Feedback St...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: ShippingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the use of a Russian shadow fleet to evade oil sanctions; and whether she (a) plans to restrict
Answer: The Russia sanctions regime prohibits Russian ships, and other ships specified by the Secretary of State, from entering ports in the United Kingdom. We recently enhanced our powers to impose additional prohibitions when sanctioning vessels, including proh...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate and Surgical Mesh Implants: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish a response to The Hughes Report: Options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, published on 7 February 2024; and whether he plans to approv
Answer: The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Mobile BroadbandDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Network Rail has made on improving passenger mobile connectivity through the upgrade from GSM-R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System; and what the planned timeline is for that upgrade
Answer: The Government is committed to improving passenger connectivity as a core part of the rail offer. This is why the Department secured funding as part of the Spending Review to use low earth orbit satellite connectivity to significantly improve on train Wi-...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish her Department's response to the Animals in Science Committee report on non-technical summaries and retrospective assessments.
Answer: The Home Office published the Department’s response to the Animals in Science Committee report on non-technical summaries and retrospective assessments on 8th May 2026. The response can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-technica...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordMinisters: AviationMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44594, on Ministers: Aviation, which Ministers took the flights.
Answer: It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas ministerial travel is pub...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament record10 Downing Street: CatsCabinet OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1710More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which budget the cat flap and cat ramp in Downing Street was funded from.
Answer: The associated costs were covered by the Prime Minister personally with no cost to the taxpayer.
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his position is on the (a) procurement by the UK Government and (b) development by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, of non-ballistic, tactical nuclear weapons, for use in a conflict.
Answer: The UK does not categorise nuclear weapon capabilities as either strategic or sub-strategic/tactical. The UK’s nuclear weapons are intended to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, as well as that of our NATO Allies, rat...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordUnemployment: Basildon and BillericayDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people aged (a) between 16 and 24 and (b) over 16 are unemployed in Basildon and Billericay constituency (i) in the latest period for which statistics are available and (
Answer: The information requested on trends in levels of unemployment is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp and the guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp. The estimated unemployment levels a...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadcasting: PoliticiansDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to respond to the Ofcom consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on
Answer: Ofcom’s consultation on proposed amendments to Rule 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code closed on 23 June 2025, and Ofcom published a response to the consultation on 20 October 2025. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not respond to the consultation...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take legislative steps to improve access to nature.
Answer: This Government has announced, as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, that we will bring forward an Access to Nature Green Paper to consult on proposals to improve and expand public access to the outdoors. The Green Paper will set out a range...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordControlled BurningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the European Commission’s support for grazing and the controlled burning of vegetation as measures to red
Answer: Careful choice of land management techniques can play a part in reducing wildfire impacts and bring a wide range of public benefits, but influencing human behaviour will be essential in preventing most wildfires from starting. Decisions on the most approp...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSyria: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with Inter Mediate on de-sanctioning the Syrian regime since 4 July 2024.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 June 2025 on the last occasion he asked this question (UIN 52690).
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordFormer Ministers: Departmental RecordsAttorney GeneralTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1237More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance she has issued to Departments on whether former Ministers should be consulted before internal Ministerial papers are shared with the courts.
Answer: The Solicitor General has not issued any guidance to Departments on whether former Ministers should be consulted before internal Ministerial papers are shared with the courts.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordChildbirth: DatabasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 107772 on Childbirth: Medical Records, which NHS trusts have recorded SNOMED CT codes (a) 125678001, (b) 699110007, (c) 1269487002, (d) 126
Answer: Consanguinity can currently be recorded in the Maternity Services Data Set by maternity services providers at any point in the maternity care pathway. There are no current plans to make this recording mandatory.The Manchester University NHS Foundation Tru...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power StationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Ofgem has reviewed the Employment Tribunal case involving the Drax whistleblower; and whether Ofgem has assessed whether any matters raised in that case have implications for Drax’s c
Answer: In order to receive subsidies under the Renewables Obligation (RO), Drax must demonstrate compliance with biomass sustainability criteria. As part of its 2023-4 investigation into Drax, Ofgem considered a broad range of documents and sources, including st...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing time spent in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme to count towards eligibility for indefinite
Answer: I refer the Rt Honourable Member to my answer given on 21 April to PQ UIN 126987.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordChildbirth: DatabasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 107772, whether his Department plans to make the recording of consanguinity and related information in the Maternity Services Dataset manda
Answer: Consanguinity can currently be recorded in the Maternity Services Data Set by maternity services providers at any point in the maternity care pathway. There are no current plans to make this recording mandatory.The Manchester University NHS Foundation Tru...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1232More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th May is attached.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCollective ResponsibilityCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1231More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, whether any Cabinet decisions since July 2024 would have been sped up as a result of t
Answer: Policy analysis on options for reforming collective agreement is ongoing and we have high ambitions for speeding up the government’s decision making processes. All options are being considered for how this success is measured. There are currently no plans...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record9 Downing Street: MediaCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1230More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30828 on 9 Downing Street: Media, which scheduled transparency return will publish the OCS invoice; and on which date.
Answer: The OCS invoice for the 9 Downing Street works in the published data for the month of November 2025 as issued during December 2025 and is item 387, 10000204, OCS Group UK Limited, Transaction HZ820722.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: EmailCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1229More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41645 on Cabinet Office: Email, what the automatic deletion policies are for non-Ministerial inboxes for officials in his Department where individual emai
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer of 4 April 2025, Official Report, PQ 41645.
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCensusCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1228More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to accept the UK Statistics Authority's recommendation that the Office for National Statistics deliver a census of England and Wales in 2031.
Answer: The Government response was published alongside the UKSA recommendation in July 2025 and can be found here. It confirmed that a census of England and Wales will be held in 2031.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCollege for National SecurityCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1227More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the College for National Security Privacy Notice, published on 20 May 2025, whether individuals participating in the College for National Security's pilot courses are required to provide data r
Answer: The College for National Security’s courses are open to all civil and crown servants with safeguards to ensure content is only accessed by staff with appropriate clearances.The College does not collect Protected Characteristic data of pilot participants a...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: BuildingsCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1226More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate his Department has made of the scale of the maintenance backlog across central government property.
Answer: The National Audit Office published its Maintaining Public Service Facilities report in January 2025. This estimated the maintenance backlog across the government estate to be at least £49 billion. My Department supported the review. Figures based on a st...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament record
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