Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Greater Anglia: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Greater Anglia has made on (a) expanding its pay-as-you-go ticketing system in 2026 and (b) delivering the extra projected 11 million additional journeys of which three million were designated to
Answer: On Sunday 8th March 2026, Pay As You Go (PAYG) with contactless went live at 20 stations at Greater Anglia stations including Stansted Airport. In the four weeks ending 30 May 2026, these additional 20 stations generated around 200,000 taps, this is a 15 ...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSouth Western RailwayDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps South Western Railways have taken to complete planned infrastructure upgrades including West of England line resilience works, London Waterloo-Clapham Junction and Fareham-Havant and Portsmouth Harbo
Answer: South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex are delivering a coordinated programme of works by March 2027. This includes track improvements in Portsmouth as well as the strengthening of Portcreek Viaduct, and commencement of the £120 million Havant resi...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLondon, Tilbury and Southend Line: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Class 357 trains c2c has upgraded since 17 December 2025; and whether the full fleet upgrade will be completed by December 2026.
Answer: A total of 20 trains (80 vehicles) have been painted to date since the 17 December 2025. The current programme is scheduled to conclude in December 2026, with 26 trains (104 vehicles) still outstanding.
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test centres for (a) car practical driving tests, (b) motorcycle tests, (c) bus tests, (d) HGV tests and (e) test for other vehicle types were there in Great Britain on (i) 4 July 2024 and (ii)
Answer: The table below shows how many driving test centres (DTC) conduct car practical driving tests, motorcycle tests, vocational and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) tests in Great Britain. This data is available monthly at the beginn...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has received on bringing forward the scheduled review of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate since 4 July 2024; and whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of reviewing i
Answer: The Government keeps the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate under continual review to ensure it remains effective. We have a long-standing commitment to publish a formal review of the ZEV Mandate by early 2027. We are beginning discussions to inform the ...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4291More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the (a) total annual cost to businesses of administering and complying with the proposed electric Vehicle Excise Duty scheme and (b) the ratio of this figure to the exp
Answer: The Government announced at Budget 2025 that electric Vehicle Excise Duty will be introduced from April 2028 to ensure all motorists continue to make a fair contribution to road usage, as fuel duty receipts decline during the transition to electric vehicl...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: VacanciesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiner vacancies were there in (a) March, (b) April and (c) May 2026.
Answer: As stated in the answer to Question 121903 the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not centrally hold a snapshot of the total number of driving examiner vacancies by calendar month but continually reviews its workforce requirements in response...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Northern Trains Limited has made on increasing the level of Assisted Travel Support through a dedicated team since the publication of its service targets on 17 December 2025; and what steps are be
Answer: Through its Passenger Assistance Improvement Programme, Northern Trains has increased the level of ‘All assistance received’ from 76.4 per cent to 84.4 per cent between January and April 2026 (period 11 – period 1), and satisfaction with assistance has im...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSoutheastern: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Southeastern operated stations had pay as you go facilities in (a) 2025 and (b) 2026 to date; and whether he expects Southeastern to achieve full pay as you go network coverage by 2027.
Answer: At Southeastern stations, there is a combination of both Oyster and Pay As You Go (PAYG) with contactless enablement. In both 2025 and 2026, 69 stations were enabled for use with PAYG tickets. We are working with industry to consider any further expansion...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSoutheastern: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will set out the new rolling stock procured by Southeastern since 17 December 2025.
Answer: There has been no new rolling stock procured by Southeastern since 17 December 2025. As the Rt Hon Member is aware from previous correspondence, Southeastern is currently engaged in a live rolling stock procurement process. However, this has not yet concl...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTransPennine Express: Catering and WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent funding has been allocated to improve the level of onboard WiFi and catering on TransPennine Express trains.
Answer: Following the Spending Review, the Department was successful in securing funding to put low earth orbit satellite connectivity on our mainline trains to significantly improve the on train wifi for passengers. Part of this funding will be made available to...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Official CarsCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4285More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 4 February 2026, to Question 109542, on Ministers: Official Cars, if he will set out how his Department's finance team invoices expenditure for cars used by Cabinet Office (a) Min
Answer: The Government Car Service (GCS) offers vehicles to government departments as a shared resource. Each department independently determines the allocation of these vehicles. GCS does not invoice separately for Ministerial or civil servant use.
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: MinistersCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4284More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116220 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how many individual trips his Department has organised for Ministerial travel by helicopter since July 2024.
Answer: Helicopter travel has been commissioned under the Cabinet Office Central Travel Contract for Ministerial travel on one occasion since July 2024. Routine helicopter journeys for Ministers are no longer carried out under this Government.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Official CarsCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4283More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 5 March 2026 to Question 54801 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether there is internal guidance separate to that linked to.
Answer: Any internal guidance regarding use of the Ministerial vehicles would be issued by the individual department. The only guidance referred to by the Government Car Service is that contained within the Ministerial Code.
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: AviationCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4282More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 108240 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether any planes have been commissioned through Cabinet Office Central Travel Contract since its incepti
Answer: Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code, ensuring efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer. Since the inception of the Central Travel Contract on 1 September 2022, the department has commissioned an aircraft on 50 o...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordOfficial CarsCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4281More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Car Service holds information on cars provided for civil service use.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer on 18th March 2026 (PQ 120040).
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArms Length Bodies: LobbyingCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4280More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will update ALB guidance to prevent the spending of public funding on lobbying events.
Answer: The Rules on Lobbying for Non-Departmental Public Bodies, which are published on GOV.UK, state that Arms Length Bodies are prohibited from using public funds to host promotional receptions, buy exhibition space, or book stands at political gatherings. Any...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated yearly cost to the RAF is of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel in each year (a) since its introduction and (b) for which forecasts are available (i) in total and (ii) by litre; and whether those
Answer: It is taking time to collate the requested information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: MinistersMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the RAF Command Support Air Transport fleet and RAF Envoy IV fixed wing aircraft are used to transport Ministers (a) domestically and (b) internationally.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 116220 on 6 March 2026.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-26/116220
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: MinistersMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116219, how many taskings have been undertaken for Ministers on RAF CSAT (a) helicopters and (b) planes since July 2024.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to question 116221 on 6 March 2026. 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 ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordStreet Trading: Westminster BridgeHome OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4276More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 115864 on Street Trading: Westminster Bridge, whether she has issued guidance to the police on enforcing the law on dangerous parking in areas
Answer: Decriminalised parking enforcement, rests with local authorities, who are best placed to manage local road networks and issue penalty charge notices. This is set out in statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking co...
Answered 3 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4275More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116216 on Airports: Business Rates, if she will provide a relevant hyperlink to the revised guidance.
Answer: Guidance for assessing the rateable value of airports in the 2026 Rating List for which hereditaments were valued in 2024 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rating-manual-section-6-part-3-valuation-of-all-property-classes/airports-practice-not...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordClean Air ZonesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115458 on Clean Air Zones, whether she plans to redraft the Clean Air Zone Framework to require compliance with PM2.5 targets.
Answer: Clean Air Zones are measures designed to achieve compliance with legal NO₂ limit values. As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan, we are committed to measures to reduce PM2.5, including modernising the environmental permitting framework for indus...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWritten Questions: Disclosure of InformationLeader of the HouseTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4273More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, what guidance he has given to Departments on disclosing information in answers to Parliamentary Questions which have been disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
Answer: The Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work), published by my office, sets out the government's position regarding the relationship between the treatment of requests for information...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Offences: Fixed PenaltiesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the document entitled Analysis of 'Restricting the generation of surplus funds from traffic contraventions' call for evidence, published on 30 March 2026, whether she plans to respond to the i
Answer: No. This analysis was commissioned by the previous government.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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