Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving Tests: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78713 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the national average car driving test waiting time was in weeks in October 2025.
Answer: The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test in October 2025 was 21.9 weeks. There were four test centres in total where the waiting time for a practical car driving test was 24 weeks for each month from July 2023 to October 2025. Th...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what performance indicators her Department uses to assess level-crossing down-time; whether she plans to introduce maximum permitted barrier down-time standards; and if she will publish annual statistics on ave
Answer: My Department does not use performance indicators to assess down-time at level crossings, nor does it plan to publish annual statistics on these. These decisions are the responsibility of Network Rail, which has a statutory duty to ensure the safe managem...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of i) timetable planning, ii) signalling and iii) freight pathing margins on barrier down-times at level crossings; and how Network Rail monitors and reports
Answer: Network Rail is responsible for assessing the impact of timetable changes, freight paths and upgrades to signalling on level crossing down-time, as part of its overall management of level crossings on the rail network. These arrangements are kept under re...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds information on a) the average barrier down-time at each public highway level crossing in England, b) the five crossings with the longest average down-times in the most recent year,
Answer: The Department does not hold this information.
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordShipping: InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84696 on Shipping: Investment, when her Department plans to publish the competition scopes and assessment criteria for the maritime funding programme.
Answer: The Department plans to launch the next round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition and the Zero Emission and Vessel Infrastructure competition in Spring 2026.
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: BiodiversityDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain requirements on the cost of non completed strategic road network improvement projects since the implementation of the relevant legisla
Answer: Mandatory biodiversity net gain requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects will apply from May 2026. The 16 National Highways road enhancement schemes that already have development consent, along with one scheme awaiting a decision ex...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Information SharingDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Question 88884, how much income has been collected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency by providing vehicle registered keeper details in 2025.
Answer: The table below shows the income received in the calendar year 2025 and financial year 2025/26. Income collected from the release of keeper detailsCalendar year 1 January to 31 October 2025£36,694,204.23Financial year 25/26 1 April to 31 October 2025£27,5...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the national average car driving test waiting time is in weeks in October 2025.
Answer: The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test in October 2025 was 21.9 weeks. There were four test centres in total where the waiting time for a practical car driving test was 24 weeks for each month from July 2023 to October 2025. Th...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCongenital AbnormalitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87431 on Congenital Abnormalities, whether he has plans to (a) publish aggregated consanguinity statistics collected through the Maternity Ser
Answer: NHS England has no current plans to publish aggregated consanguinity statistics collected through the Maternity Services Data Set. Through the Genetic Risk Equity project, the National Health Service is seeking to improve the quality of consanguinity data...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCongenital AbnormalitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87431 on Congenital Abnormalities, what consanguinity data NHS England collects through the Maternity Services Data Set; what assessment he ha
Answer: Consanguinity can be recorded in the Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS) at any point in the maternity care pathway, by maternity services providers, including a relevant clinical code in the submitted MSDS record for an individual receiving maternity care...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFrozen Food: StorageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating the international frozen food storage standard from –18°C to –15°C, including the potential impact on (a) energy co
Answer: The Government welcomes new and innovative steps taken by any businesses to produce and supply food sustainably, providing they can demonstrate the food they place on the market is safe.There is no legal requirement for frozen food to be stored at -18°C i...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 89627 on the Electric Car Grant, whether the eligibility criteria for that scheme could be amended to allow access to manufacturers that do not hold a veri
Answer: All vehicle grants are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to achieve their objectives and deliver value for taxpayer's money. This includes the eligibility criteria for the Electric Car Grant.
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90406 on South Western Railway: Rolling Stock, what the the total cost is of the renewed rolling stock leasing contract; how long that contract is for; and
Answer: As part of the transfer to public ownership of South Western Railway’s operations, the Department undertook modelling to assess whether the costs associated with new rolling stock leases were objective and reasonable. Details of the new leases, including ...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 89632 on Great British Railways: Finance, if she will publish the assumptions on passenger ridership growth that underpin the Department’s estimate of a £1
Answer: The Department’s Spending Review settlement and additional commentary were set out on gov.uk. As is usual, the Department does not publish further detail. The reduction in the rail passenger services subsidy over the Spending Review period will be enabled...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: StoneMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential energy-efficiency benefits derived from using natural stone in public and private construction.
Answer: Energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings and buildings are set through the Building Regulations, which specify overall performance standards rather than mandating particular materials. This allows designers and developers to select the most practi...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: MaterialsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on including locally manufactured materials such as natural stone in planning conditions and development frameworks.
Answer: National design guidance, which supports the National Planning Policy Framework, states that well-designed places should be responsive to local history, culture and heritage. The guidance highlights the role of resources, including the careful selection o...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarrying: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to review the level of regulation of small quarrying and stone-processing firms.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no current plans to review the level of regulation of small quarrying and stone-processing firms. The Government is committed to reducing regulatory compliance costs for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) an...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Buildings: StoneCabinet OfficeTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92687More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen supply chain resilience by supporting the use of British natural stone in public building projects.
Answer: Government Property Agency Capital projects will use tools such as Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) to analyse the cost and carbon impact of materials and products used during construction. This would favour local materials that naturally have a lower...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving tests a full-time driving examiner can conduct per year, allowing for annual leave.
Answer: A full-time driving examiner can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ReformDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 88361 on Railways: Reform, whether either the estimated £200–£400 million set-up and transitional cost range cited in the Impact Assessment or the projecte
Answer: These are internal estimates. The assessments of set-up and transitional costs are based on engagement with industry partners, including Network Rail and DfT Operator Limited. The estimate that public ownership could save taxpayers up to £110 to £150 mill...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 89630 on London North Eastern Railway: Fares, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the LNER demand-based pricing trial on ticket prices fo
Answer: London North Eastern Railway (LNER) have made their customer offer easier to understand by removing tickets with complicated validity rules and introducing a more straightforward Semi-Flexible ticket. Some passengers will benefit from getting flexible opt...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFreight: FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88363 on Freight: Fuels Excise Duties, whether her Department holds data on the relative changes in operating costs for (a) rail freight and (b) road freig
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting rail freight, recognising its economic and environmental benefits and the role it plays in the resilience of the UK’s supply chain. However, both road and rail freight are privately owned and operated, with a wide...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway NetworkDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90060 on Railway Network: Environment Protection, whether she plans to make changes to the size of the rail network under Great British Railways.
Answer: This government will continue to deliver high impact projects and enhancements to the railway that improve connectivity and capacity for passengers and freight to support unlocking economic growth. Schemes such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade, East West...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90058 on Railways: Safety, how the ORR’s railway safety enforcement regime will change following the establishment of Great British Railways.
Answer: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent railway safety regulator for the UK. Its enforcement powers derive from the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and range from giving advice and information through to prosecution in the courts. The crea...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHereditary DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87859 on Hereditary Diseases, if his Department will publish any estimates or research they have of the annual cost to the public purse for th
Answer: No, the Department is not planning to publish any estimates or research on the annual cost to the public purse for the National Health Service of treating congenital and genetic disorders arising from consanguineous unions. The Department does not hold th...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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