Richard Holden MP: written questions
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Written questions
Childbirth: 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 recordPermanent Secretaries: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1225More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary roles are (a) being advertised through open and fair competition, (b) have advertised but the recruitment is now closed and the appointment has not yet
Answer: There are currently five permanent secretary recruitment processes underway. One is open for applications through an external advert. Four are now closed but the appointment has not yet been made. Three were advertised externally and one was advertised in...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the evidential basis was for not exempting large islands such as the Isle of Wight from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answer: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a key and effective policy lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the economy and there is a high bar for any exemptions from the scheme. A uniform carbon price applied consistently, without multiple ca...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: CybersecurityDepartment for TransportTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1223More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks affecting the rail sector.
Answer: The Department for Transport (DfT) views the cyber security of the rail sector as a priority, working across Government to introduce relevant standards, guidance, and policy to ensure the cyber security and resilience of our essential services.DfT uses bo...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: East of EnglandDepartment for TransportTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for the Haughley Junction upgrades.
Answer: The Haughley Junction upgrade will be considered in future as funding becomes available.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release published on 25 March 2026 entitled £1 billion to cut costs for businesses, drive growth and clean up UK roads, how much of the £1 billion announced funding pack
Answer: Of the £1 billion out to 2030 announced on 25 March 2026, £877 million is for zero emission vehicle purchase grants through the Zero Emission Truck Grant and Zero Emission Van Grant. £171 million is for infrastructure support through the Depot Charging Sc...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the National Vocational Qualification for Pilots was removed in 1999 and what consideration has been made of introducing a new qualification that is not subject to VAT for pilot training.
Answer: Decisions around qualifications taken in 1999 were made by a previous government and the department has no further information to add to that made available at the time.The First Officer Pilot Apprenticeship Standard, developed by industry, was introduced...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide, for each driving test centre in Great Britain, the car practical driving test waiting time in weeks in a) February 2026; b) March 2026; c) April 2026 and d) May 2026.
Answer: The answer to questions 122397 (31 March 2026) and 127873 (24 April 2026) provide the monthly average car practical driving test waiting time data (based on the national average waiting time metric of when a minimum of 10% of test slots are available) for...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAvanti West Coast: InternetDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2026 to Question 128563 on Avanti West Coast: Internet, what timetable has been set for (a) the upgrade of onboard Wi-Fi systems across Avanti West Coast services and (b
Answer: The work to upgrade Avanti West Coast (AWC) Wi-Fi systems is expected to be complete by Spring 2027 but this is subject to contractual agreement with suppliers. The AWC window etching project is due to complete testing by the end of March 2027, with full ...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing formal trigger mechanisms or objective thresholds for future slot alleviation measures relating to aviation fuel disruption.
Answer: The Department for Transport is working closely with the aviation industry to understand pressures arising from the Middle East conflict, including any potential impacts on aviation fuel supply. The Government has been monitoring jet fuel stocks closely a...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordImmobilisation of VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125015 on Immobilisation of Vehicles, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of immobilisation devices unlawfully removed from vehicles.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with its national wheel clamping contractor to monitor where wheel clamps have been forcibly removed and to identify patterns of concern.When a vehicle is clamped, the registered keeper can secu...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: HealthDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average number of days taken by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to reach a licensing decision was in cases where a medical condition required investigation, in each month from January 2024 to A
Answer: The table below shows the average number of days to make a licensing decision for driving licence applications where a medical condition required investigation before a licence could be issued in each month from January 2024 to March 2026. The final figur...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: LebanonDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039 on Department for Transport: Aviation, what the purpose was of the flight to Lebanon; which Ministers and senior officials approved the visit; how many
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: ColombiaDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039 on Department for Transport: Aviation, what the purpose was of the flight to Colombia; which Ministers and senior officials approved the visit; how man
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Netherlands AntillesDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039 on Department for Transport: Aviation, what the purpose was of each flight to Netherlands Antilles; which Ministers and senior officials approved each
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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