Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Charging Points and Hydrogen Fuelling Stations: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86322 on Charging Points and Hydrogen Fuelling Stations, what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of public funding allocated specific
Answer: All public funding for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure since April 2024 has been invested through our delivery partners Innovate UK, part of UKRI. Innovate UK assess value for money of applications submitted for research, development and demonstration ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriverless Vehicles: TaxisDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90809More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the regulatory changes required to enable the commercial deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services at scale in the UK, similar to those operating in cities includ
Answer: The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (the Act) sets the foundation for enabling the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles on roads in Great Britain with full implementation of the Act planned for the second half of 2027. Earlier this year, government announ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to ensure that track access charges for operators outside Great British Railways will not be increased to offset the absence of access charges for Great British Railways-operated se
Answer: The Government is fundamentally reforming the track access charging framework to remove complexities and the complicated ‘money go round’ that would have required GBR to charge itself for using its own infrastructure. GBR will establish and consult on a n...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to ensure that track access charges for operators outside Great British Railways remain based on the direct operating costs incurred by the infrastructure manager.
Answer: Clause 64 of the Bill sets a clear legal requirement for charges to be set at the cost that is directly incurred to cover the operating costs incurred by the GBR, subject to exclusions on discounts and mark-ups. GBR will establish a charging framework tha...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what circumstances she would extend track access rights for existing operators on the network.
Answer: Track Access Rights are managed independently by the Office of Rail and Road.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to enable track access agreements longer than five years on the railway network.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of certainty for operators when entering into track access agreements. The new access framework will enable GBR to offer this longer-term certainty to third parties – including contracts beyond 5 years.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: AviationCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90804More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2024 to Question 39576 on Prime Minister: Aviation, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the Prime Minster
Answer: Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Apprentices and TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 82989 on Level 7 apprenticeships, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential impact of this policy on workfo
Answer: No meeting occurred between the Secretary of State and the Department for Education Secretary of State regarding Level 7 apprenticeship funding, as the responsibility now lies with the Department for Work and Pensions’ Secretary of State. The Government i...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPrize MoneyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of non-regulated large-scale prize draws on (a) the National Lottery and (b) society lotteries.
Answer: This Government recognises that prize draws are a significant and growing market, and we want to ensure that people who participate in prize draws are confident that proportionate protections are in place.Independent research was commissioned in 2023, whi...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Armed ForcesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press notice entitled Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog, published on 12 November 2025, what the total full-time employee equivalent cont
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has agreed with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that 36 defence driving examiners (DDE) will do driving tests for one day a week for 12 months. This equates to a total full-time employee equivalent contribution...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 85351, whether the Government plans to publish the individual scheme costs for Strategic Road Network projects as part of the third Road Investment Strategy
Answer: The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will include a total funding line for all enhancements to the strategic road network to be delivered during the period 2026-2031.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87421 on Rolling Stock: Leasing, on what terms South Western Railway’s rolling stock leasing arrangements were transferred into public ownership; and what
Answer: South Western Railway’s (SWR) rolling stock leases had the same end dates as the operator’s National Rail Contract, 25 May 2025. Rolling stock leases were negotiated and awarded alongside the transfer of SWR’s operations into public ownership. Details can...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Electric Car Grant scheme on market competition.
Answer: The Department completed an internal impact assessment for the Electric Car Grant’s potential impact on the UK market.Officials will continue to monitor the grant and its impact, to ensure the scheme meets its objectives and assess its ongoing value for m...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsTreasuryTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90404More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department was involved in the development of the Electric Car Grant.
Answer: Government policy is developed and agreed through the collective agreement process, with His Majesty’s Treasury responsible for scrutinising public spending to ensure value for money.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has produced an impact assessment for the Electric Car Grant criteria.
Answer: The Department has completed an internal impact assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials will continue to monitor the grant and its impact, to ensure the scheme meets its objectives and assess its ongoing value for money.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRestoring Your Railway FundDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 86751 on the Restoring Your Railway Fund, what the value was of the remaining funding anticipated for that programme prior to its reallocation under the Sp
Answer: At the time of the cancellation, the schemes announced by the previous government as part of the programme had forecasts totalling c.£600m over the period to 2029/30. The chancellor stated that the decision to close the RYR scheme saved £85m of funding fo...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: EssexDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87426 on Railways: Essex, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junc
Answer: As per the answer of 11th November, initial assessments indicate that electrifying the branch between London Gateway and Thames Haven Junction would improve the efficiency and reliability of rail freight while reducing emissions. We will continue to work ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether manufacturers who have not signed up to the (a) Science Based Targets Initiative and (b) Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration will be eligible for the Electric Car Grant.
Answer: The Electric Car Grant requires manufacturers to hold a verified Science Based Target (SBT) from the Science Based Target Initiative. Vehicles made by manufacturers who do not hold either a verified near-term or net-zero SBT will not be eligible for the E...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for the full private parking regulation regime to be (a) in place, (b) implemented and (c) in force.
Answer: This government is committed to raising standards across the private parking sector and protecting motorists. On the 11th July, the government launched a consultation outlining its proposals for a new Private Parking Code of Practice. The consultation clo...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Redundancy PayDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the former Secretary of State for Transport (the Hon Member for Sheffield Heeley) received and accepted a Ministerial severance payment.
Answer: Information relating to Ministerial severance payments are published in the annual DfT accounts.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Control: OxfordDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84700 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, how much the DVLA has received from (a) Oxford City Council and (b) Oxfordshire County Council, or their agents who o
Answer: Some local authorities use intermediary companies which request data on behalf of the local authority and pass on the cost. While limited information may be available about intermediary companies that may request vehicle keeper data on behalf of Oxfordshi...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Electronic CigarettesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, what is the policy rationale for legislating for byelaws which can ban vaping outside bus stops.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour on the bus network. The Bus Services Act 2025 provides Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) with the power to create byelaws, should they wish to do so, and deploy officers who can deal with low ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWritten Questions: Government ResponsesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25857 on Written Questions: Government Responses, and to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82741 on Transport: Finance, if she will provide a releva
Answer: Transport for City Regions settlements (TCR) allocations, published in June 2025, can be found at Transport for City Regions funding allocations - GOV.UK
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRestoring Your Railway FundDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82997 on Restoring Your Railway Fund, whether any (a) equality impact assessment and (b) screening was produced by any central government body in relation t
Answer: The decision to close the Restoring your Railways programme was taken by the Chancellor as a cost saving measure in July 2024. The impact of this decision was carefully considered by HM Treasury and an equality impact assessment on the closure of the prog...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Electric VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to promote the uptake of electric vehicles at rental installations on airport sites.
Answer: The Department engages actively with airport operators and infrastructure users, including rental companies, to support the provision of accessible EV charging infrastructure at major transport hubs. We will continue to facilitate discussions between oper...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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