Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Airports: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects her Department to issue a response to the call for evidence on a 2040 zero emissions airport target that was published in May 2023.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting its missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We are making great strides in transitioning to greener aviation, including work on sustainabl...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is her Department's policy for all airport operations in England to be zero emission by 2040.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting its missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We are making great strides in transitioning to greener aviation, including work on sustainabl...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeed LimitsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has provided to local authorities on 10mph speed limits.
Answer: Decisions on making local speed limits on roads in England rest with traffic authorities who have responsibility for roads in local areas. The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance to assist authorities setting local speed limits, designe...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Personnel ManagementDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 85919 on South Western Railway: Personnel Management, whether the same company continues to manage payroll services for South Western Railway following its
Answer: South Western Railway (SWR) has managed its payroll services internally following the transfer to public ownership. It is not outsourcing this service, therefore it is SWR that is responsible for its payroll services.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of track access charges for operators outside Great British Railways following the implementation of the Railways Bill on applications for (a) new and (b)
Answer: The Government is fundamentally reforming the track access charging framework by transferring the responsibility for who sets charges from the ORR to GBR. This is so the body who maintains the infrastructure (GBR) will be able to set charges appropriately...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the rail network in each of the next five years.
Answer: For the next three financial years (2026/27 to 2028/29 inclusive) the Department estimates the net cost to the public purse could be c£9bn a year on average, including passenger services, Network Rail’s operations, maintenance and renewal (OMR) and enhanc...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesAttorney GeneralTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89645More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions her Department has had with other Government departments on proposals to make first cousin marriage unlawful.
Answer: By long-standing convention, the fact that I, or a fellow Law Officer, may have advised or not advised, as well as the content of our advice, is not disclosed outside government.As explained in Erskine May: “By long-standing convention, observed by succes...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department has had discussions with the Ministry of Justice on making first cousin marriage unlawful.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the increased health risks for children of first cousins and we are in contact with other Government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, to provide further information on these as part of wid...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of banning first cousin marriage.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the increased health risks for children of first cousins and we are in contact with other Government departments, including the Ministry of Justice, to provide further information on these as part of wid...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84310 on High Speed 2 Line, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the four-year deferral of work on the Handsacre link on (a) j
Answer: The deferral of work at Handsacre is not expected to have any impact on journey times once the delivery of HS2 is complete.The economic benefits of the government's delivery plans for HS2 will be considered as part of the updated business case being devel...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89641More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 85352 on Airports: Business Rates, whether the Valuation Office Agency has received any (a) formal challenges and (b) appeals from airports on their rateable val
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency has not received any formal challenges or appeals from airports on their rateable values for the 2026 Rating List, as it is not yet live. The VOA cannot confirm details for the 2023 list because the numbers are too small and di...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure enforcement of service quality standards under Great British Railways.
Answer: Great British Railways (GBR) will be held to account for railway performance and customer experience including service quality, as will open access and devolved operators. We intend for minimum consumer standards to be set and monitored by the Passenger W...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNetwork Rail: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish guidance on the handling of existing (a) contracts, (b) liabilities and (c) pension arrangements for Network Rail staff after their transfer to Great British Railways.
Answer: The Bill will not include operational and contractual details about transfer of property, rights, liabilities and staff into GBR or GBR's corporate structure.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on proposals to ban first cousin marriage.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice regularly engages with other Government Departments, including the Home Office, on a range of issues relating to marriage law.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89637More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of an increase in fuel duty on (a) GDP and (b) employment levels in the (i) road haulage and (ii) logistics sectors.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26. The temporary 5p cut is scheduled to expire in ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCompany Cars: TaxationTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89636More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85347 on Company Cars: Taxation, what estimate her Department has made of the revenue to be raised from changes to benefit in kind taxation for vehicles provided
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the proposed changes to Employee Car Ownership Schemes were estimated to raise £875m across the scorecard. This costing and the tax impact and information note will be updated at a future fiscal event to reflect the six-month delay ...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is her Department’s policy that airline and passenger charges should be central considerations in decision-making on Heathrow expansion.
Answer: The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) provides the primary basis for decision making on development consent applications for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The ANPS is now under review following the Secretary of State's announcement in Octobe...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86741 on Great British Railways, if she will publish the names of the (a) people and (b) organisations involved in the leadership and operational design of
Answer: Richard Goodman, Director General, is the Department for Transport Senior Responsible Officer for the design of Great British Railways and Chair of the Rail Reform and Strategy Portfolio Board that includes the NR CEO and DfTO CEO.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDfT Operator: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86324 on DfT Operator: Standards, if she will publish copies of all written instructions issued by her Department to DfT Operator train operating companies
Answer: The Department does not routinely publish instructions made to train operators.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86738 on Great British Railways: Finance, from which areas the Department expects to realise the over £1.2 billion reduction in the rail passenger services
Answer: The reduction in the rail passenger services subsidy over the Spending Review period will be primarily driven by passenger ridership and revenue continuing to recover post COVID-19 and efficiencies and savings being made through public ownership.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving under Influence: TestingHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86746 on Roads: Accidents, whether her Department has received requests from the Department for Transport for data on (a) drug and (b) drink drivi
Answer: As a part of the Annual Data Requirement, the Home Office collects information on roadside breath tests for alcohol, carried out by the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales.The Home Office makes all information collected on roadside breath te...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 85911 on Railways: Fares, what estimate she has made of the percentage of passengers travelling from (a) London, (b) York, (c) Newcastle and (d) Edinburgh w
Answer: The London North Eastern Railway (LNER) ‘Simpler Fares’ trial is running on routes from the London area to stations between and around Newcastle and Edinburgh. York is not a station in the trial. The trial aims to address the situation where some ‘peak’ t...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: LabellingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandatory calorie labelling on menus on (a) eating habits and (b) measures of health beyond calorie intake.
Answer: Legislation requires large businesses in England, those with 250 or more employees, to display calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks.The policy aims to support consumers to improve eating habits by making healthier choices for themselv...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the increase in eating disorders among teenagers and young adults.
Answer: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, there is a critical need to shift the treatment of eating disorders from hospital to the community. Improved care in the community will give young people early access to...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) process and (b) indicative timeline is for changing the eligibility criteria for the Electric Car Grant scheme, including (i) consultation and (ii) implementation stages.
Answer: All government grants, including the Electric Car Grant, remain under constant review to ensure they provide best value for money for the taxpayer. As stated when the grant was launched, the grant can be closed early or elements of the scheme amended, inc...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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