Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving under Influence: DrugsHome OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the annual cost to police forces of (a) administering roadside drug-impairment tests and (b) drug-driving testing; what steps she is taking to reduce the per-test
Answer: The Government’s Road Safety Strategy, launched in January 2026, includes a consultation on a range of motoring offences including the drink and drug driving testing framework. The government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the too...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTransPennine Express: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 106601, what the (a) operating revenue, (b) operating costs and (c) net cost of onboard catering were for TransPennine Express in each financial year betwee
Answer: We are only able to provide data since the transfer into public ownership in May 2023. The data for 2023/24 (May onward) and 2024/25 are: £'00023/2424/25Catering Costs5,2058,668Catering Revenue1,0771,897Net Cost4,1286,772 The difference in cost is explain...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2026 to Question 105751, how each of the measures cited as enabling the reduction in the rail passenger services subsidy has performed from the date each Train Operating Com
Answer: Public ownership is not a silver bullet but a vital step towards rebuilding trust and pride in our railways. Due to seasonal variations, it will take time for the impact of public ownership to be fully reflected in performance trend data. Public ownership...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110085, (a) whether electric vehicle repair costs and their impact on insurance premiums form part of that work, (b) what analysis has been undertaken thro
Answer: The Motor Insurance Taskforce published its final report in December 2025. This report sets actions to strengthen the vehicle repair sector and references independent findings by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on the causes of increased premiums, i...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered the effectiveness of household fuseboards in reducing fire risk.
Answer: Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 covers electrical safety in dwellings and is intended to protect people from fire or injury. In England, installation of new household circuits, addition or alteration of circuits in specified locations and replacem...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of voltage reduction technologies installed in homes on household energy bills.
Answer: The effect of voltage reduction on consumer bills varies between appliances. For appliances that are power controlled (including most electronics, LED lighting, EV chargers and heat pumps), lowering the voltage does not reduce energy consumption and reduc...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 108806, if she will make it her policy to provide such an estimate within the next three months; and if she will publish it.
Answer: The Department for Transport does not have plans to collect and publish this data.
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Colour Vision DeficiencyDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the difference in colour vision medical standards between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the (a) Irish Aviation Authority, (
Answer: The UK approach to pilot colour vision testing involves initial screening using Ishihara test plates. Where applicants make a single error, advanced colour vision testing using the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test is required to measure colour v...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCrops and Ethanol: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the level of import of (a) maize, (b) oilseed rape, (c) ethanol and (d) wheat in each of the next five years.
Answer: Imports supplement domestic production and ensure any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease do not affect the UK's overall security of food supply. The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open mar...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that UK producers are not disadvantaged by lower-standard imports.
Answer: As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will de...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: TaxationTreasuryTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116591More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111451, whether her Department has undertaken a comparative assessment of changes to aviation passenger taxes in other European countries, including recent redu
Answer: The government is committed to the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world. The Government is clear that APD is an appropriate tax that ensures a...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can in itself qualify a person for a concessionary bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme; and what guidance her Department issues to loc
Answer: The disabled eligibility criteria are set out in Section 146 of the Transport Act 2000. While autism is not included in this list, individuals with autism may be eligible for a concessionary bus pass if they meet certain criteria related to their conditio...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCycling: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of cyclist injury collisions that occur (a) at and (b) in the vicinity of bus stops; and whether evidence supports the association of cyclist collisions w
Answer: There is no national estimate of cyclist injury collisions occurring at or near bus stops. National collision data does not routinely identify bus-stop locations, and non-fatal cycling injuries are significantly under-reported, making precise calculations...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCycling and Driving: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department provides guidance to blind and partially sighted people who are unable to cycle or drive.
Answer: The government is committed to improving transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity, including for blind and partially sighted people. As part of our broader mission to break do...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on formally assessing Eastern European and Asian countries as potential strategic partners for UK bus and coach manufacturing s
Answer: My officials work closely with Business and Trade officials, including through the work of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel.
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Civil ServantsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110088, how many staff in total have been recruited into DFT Operator Limited (DFTO) on a headcount basis since 1 January 2024; and what the net change in
Answer: The table below sets out the number of employees recruited from January 2024 and the change to net employee headcount per quarter for DFT Operator Limited (DFTO). The increases in headcount are as a result of the progressive public ownership programme man...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: ConservationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has considered reinstating voltage optimisation technologies in the Energy Saving Materials framework.
Answer: DESNZ has not considered reinstating voltage optimisation technologies in the Energy Saving Materials framework due to limitations in the performance of the technology. Voltage optimisers work by reducing the voltage to close to the lower permitted limit ...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Colour Vision DeficiencyDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) whether she has considered adopting a practical in-flight colour vision assessment model, such as the Aviation Operational Colour Vision Assessment used by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in Australia, b
Answer: Pilot colour vision testing is an issue that is considered by aviation authorities across the world. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is in discussion with national aviation authorities, including the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Property AgencyCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116583More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the Government estate is managed by the Government Property Agency; which departments, arm’s-length bodies or property portfolios lie within its direct management responsibilities; and what th
Answer: Fifty-three per cent (2023/24 53 per cent) of the central government office portfolio, covering c.1,100,000 sqm has been transferred to the Government Property Agency. The Agency provides portfolio services to the following Government departments: Advisor...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of imports of (a) maize, (b) oilseed rape, (c) ethanol and (d) wheat on UK farmers and domestic markets.
Answer: Imports supplement domestic production and ensure any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease do not affect the UK's overall security of food supply. The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open mar...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudHome OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2026 to Question 107774, if she will publish the specialist advice provided by the National Protective Security Authority and the National Counter Terrorism Securi
Answer: Comprehensive advice and guidance relating to Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) is freely available online. It can be accessed via the ProtectUK platform (https://www.protectuk.police.uk/hostile-vehicle-mitigation-hvm) or via the National Protective Securi...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Blue Badges are currently issued and valid, broken down by local authority.
Answer: As of March 2024, there were 2,837,000 valid Blue Badges in circulation across England. Information regarding breakdown by local authority can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/blue-badge-scheme-statistics-data-tables...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) What estimate her Department has made of i) the average retail price of vehicles eligible for the £3,750 Electric Car Grant, and ii) the proportion of new electric vehicles currently on sale that qualify for
Answer: Preliminary data on vehicles ordered and delivered to customers since grant launch show that the median purchase price of a vehicle eligible for the £3,750 Electric Car Grant (ECG) banding before the grant is applied is £24,009.88. Based on registration d...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLiverpool Street StationDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) how many full or partial weekend closures affecting London Liverpool Street services have occurred since July 2024; b) what assessment she has made of the economic impact of weekend engineering works on comm
Answer: It is very rare to close Liverpool Street on a weekend for longer than 27 hours and not on a Saturday. Network Rail will occasionally consider closing the full station on a Sunday as, with train operators, they can offer alternative travel options into L...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) how much Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) funding has been i) allocated, ii) drawn down, and iii) spent, b) what the average time is between allocation and operational deployment of LEVI-funded chargepoints; a
Answer: £343 million capital funding has been allocated to 113 local authorities (LAs) across England through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. As of 2 March 2026, £328m funding has been delivered to 105 LAs. Spending by LAs is a matter betwe...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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