Richard Holden MP: written questions
1068 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Civil Servants: RedundancyCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47340More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants jobs the Government plans to remove in this Parliament.
Answer: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has made public commitments to a smaller centre of government. The Government is taking forward a number of measures to deliver greater efficiency and transformation in the Civil Service, including setting an admin...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic BodiesCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47339More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new (a) executive agencies, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) public corporations and (d) publicly-owned companies (i) have been established since 4 July 2024 and (ii) are due to be established.
Answer: As said in my previous answer of 8 January 2025, the Cabinet Office maintains records and oversight of formally established arm’s-length bodies, including executive agencies, non-ministerial departments and non-departmental public bodies. No ALBs have bee...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Service: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47338More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether decisions on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure will be published in Departmental annual reports; and whether his Department has had discussions with Departmental accounting offi
Answer: Due to the timing of the publication of the EDI Expenditure Guidance, reporting external equality, diversity and inclusion spend in Annual Reporting Accounts will be possible from the 2025/2026 financial year.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArms Length BodiesCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47337More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many arms length bodies have been (a) created and (b) abolished since July 2024.
Answer: Please see my previous answer of 8 January 2025. Individual departments are responsible for any proposals to open or close ALBs.
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: SpeechesCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47336More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of Departmental premises for speeches by Ministers.
Answer: Any use of departmental premises by Ministers for speeches should be an appropriate use of government resources.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Service: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47335More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has a log of the exemptions permitted to the guidance on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure for (a) departments and (b) arm’s length bodies.
Answer: Yes, a log of exemptions which have been reported to the Cabinet Office is held. This relates to exemptions reported by Civil Service organisations only.
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Government Art CollectionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what artworks owned by (a) the Government Art Collection and (b) her Department have been removed from public display from her Department's offices since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Press ConferencesCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47333More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39118 on Prime Minister: Press Conferences, what his Department’s policy is on the use of political party (a) fittings and (b) furniture at official government
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Ministerial Code and Propriety and Ethics Guidance for Government Communicators, available on gov.uk.
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: WalesWales OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on road connectivity between England and Wales.
Answer: Cross-border travel is crucial for people between Wales and England to unlock economic growth, employment opportunities and better connect the Union. Improving transport connectivity is a priority for me, and I have been working in partnership with the Tr...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: PayCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46866More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to introduce capability-based pay in the civil service.
Answer: The government believes pay and reward structures should incentivise expertise and high performance. The Cabinet Office is reviewing capability-based pay arrangements that already exist in the Civil Service to analyse their impact on organisations that ha...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46865More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times equality, diversity and inclusion spending control decisions been delegated to permanent secretaries since May 2024.
Answer: Since May 2024, eight departments have reported to the Cabinet Office that they have delegated decisions regarding external equality, diversity and inclusion spending controls to their Permanent Secretary.
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: DatabasesCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46864More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37428 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will ask the Government Digital Service to develop a website database allowing (a) cumulative
Answer: Government integrity data is already published in a format which can be exported. The government publishes this data in CSV files in an accessible open data format, as per the standard and best practice guidance from the Government Digital Service and Cen...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Bodies: ReviewsCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46863More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.
Answer: The Public Bodies Review Programme closed as planned on 31st March 2025, and we will no longer be tracking reviews proposed as part of this programme.On the 7th of April 2025, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a process to rapidly review ...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Security CouncilCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46862More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason agendas for National Security Council meetings are not available to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
Answer: It remains longstanding precedent that information relating to discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its sub-committees, including agendas, are not disclosed. This Government is committed to providing spaces for Ministers to debate freely and f...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Statistics Authority: GenderCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46861More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the UK Statistics Authority plans to implement recommendation 56 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 22nd April is attached.
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: Civil DefenceDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the civil resilience of Heathrow airport.
Answer: UK aviation operates in the private sector. Therefore, the resilience and contingency plans in place are the responsibility of the industry. However, we recognise the importance of aviation to critical national infrastructure, and our ability to travel an...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRace Equality Engagement GroupWomen and EqualitiesTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46859More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, who the members are of the Race Equality Engagement Group; and how they were appointed.
Answer: On 18 March, I announced our plans to establish a Race Equality Engagement Group to help us develop measures to tackle race inequality. The Group will be chaired by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon. We are in the process of appointing the other members of t...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordData, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent ReviewCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46858More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recommendation 57 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.
Answer: The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants. Work is currently in development to issue model guidance on the management and governance of Staff Networks and apply this t...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Digital Service: Gender and SexDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the section entitled Gender or sex in the Gov.uk Design System, if he will make it his policy to require the Government Digital Service to use sex rather than gender w
Answer: The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from exter...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCommittee on Standards in Public LifeCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46856More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who sits on the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether the list of members has been published.
Answer: The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Digital Service: Gender and SexDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason the Gov.uk Design System section entitled Ask Users for Equality Information refers to gender identity rather than gender reassignment.
Answer: The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from exter...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Public AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46854More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39582 on Public Appointments, if he will provide the information in relation to public appointment competitions within the remit of (a) his Department and (b)
Answer: It is important that any recommendations made by Advisory Assessment Panels, and any exchanges they have with Ministers, remain confidential to ensure the flow of free and frank advice during the public appointment process. To uphold this confidentiality,...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil DefenceCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46853More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide a manual to each household on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.
Answer: Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCommittee on Standards in Public Life: Public AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46852More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who appointed each member of the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; what the appointment process was; and on what dates each person was appointed.
Answer: The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil DefenceCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46851More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to provide a manual for householders on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.
Answer: Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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