Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Harassment: Social MediaHome OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help protect (a) police officers, (b) immigration officers and (c) other public sector workers from online harassment by people who film and publish deliberately confrontat
Answer: Nobody should face harassment in person, on social media or anywhere online.The Online Safety Act (OSA) introduced a number of communication offences, including the false communications offence and which could include videos uploaded online. This offence ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: BiodiversityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the enforcement of ecological conditions attached to planning consents; and whether he has had recent discussions with (a) Natural
Answer: Monitoring and ensuring compliance with ecological conditions attached to planning permissions are matters for local planning authorities who already have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, to use as they conside...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: BiodiversityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on compliance with ecological mitigation and enhancement conditions attached to planning permissions; and if he will publish post-occupancy
Answer: Monitoring and ensuring compliance with ecological conditions attached to planning permissions are matters for local planning authorities who already have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, to use as they conside...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHereditary DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS trusts in areas with higher prevalence of consanguineous unions receive additional (a) funding, (b) training and (c) genetic counselling resources to help tackle related health needs.
Answer: Genomic testing is delivered through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which outlines the eligibility criteria for genomic testing. These criteria support clinicians to decide whether genetic testing is ap...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHereditary DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any NHS trusts (a) collect and (b) are required to collect data on (i) child and infant mortality, (ii) congenital anomalies and (iii) other health outcomes attributable to parental consang
Answer: The responsibility to collect and report child deaths is held by the commissioning authority and local authorities’ Child Death Overview Panels (CDOPs), not National Health Service trusts. The Child Death Review statutory guidance requires NHS trusts to p...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHereditary DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the incidence of (a) genetic and (b) congenital disorders associated with parental consanguinity in England and Wales since 1997; if he will make an assessm
Answer: The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England is directed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to collect data and report on the prevalence of cancer, and congenital and rare conditions in England, and ...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCongenital AbnormalitiesCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87432More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has taken steps with Cabinet colleagues to make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of inbreeding on (a) socioeconomic, (b) educational and (c) health outcomes in each region
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3rd October is attached.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCongenital AbnormalitiesCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87431More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the (a) geographical and (b) demographic distribution of (i) consanguineous unions and (ii) high genomic inbreeding coefficients in each region; and whether these data ar
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3rd October is attached.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87430More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) marriages and (b) other unions between (i) first cousins and (ii) closer relatives in each nation of the UK in each year since 1997; and whether the Off
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3rd October is attached.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMobility Scooters: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82733 on Mobility Scooters: Pedestrian Areas, when her Department plans to commence the powered mobility device review; and what its objectives will be.
Answer: The powered mobility device review is already underway, and we intend to consult with the public before the end of the year, to ensure regulations are designed with, not for, disabled people. The consultation will also gather views on the Department’s pro...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87428More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82740 on Electric Vehicles: Grants, what information his Department holds on the number of people who were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector on
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3rd November is attached.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement a national ban on pavement parking; and whether she has held recent discussions with (a) Guide Dogs and (b) other relevant charities on this
Answer: Ministers and Department officials have met with Guide Dogs and other relevant charities earlier this year to discuss pavement parking. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and i...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: EssexDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82990 on Railways: Essex, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of that proposal; and what assessment her Department has made of the pot
Answer: As per the answer of 27th October, 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 c...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82992 on Railways: Freight, which schemes set out in the Spending Review were identified as having potential for increasing the capacity for freight on the
Answer: The government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and that is why we are committed to supporting its growth. The Spending Review confirmed a number of infrastructure schemes across the country to help s...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82998 on HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme, what plans she has for (a) unspent and (b) returned grant funding; and whether those monies will be (i
Answer: As set out in my response to Question 85923, underspent specific budgets are reallocated to other priorities within DfT where possible. Any departmental underspend at the end of the financial year is returned to HMT. Under the terms of the Lorry Parking a...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the establishment of Great British Railways on the cost of rail services for passengers.
Answer: The Secretary of State will set the overall parameters for fares, reflecting their role in balancing affordability and taxpayer contributions to the railway, while Great British Railways (GBR) will set and manage individual fares for its services, creatin...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the net Government funding of the rail sector was per passenger, per journey in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial year; and what estimate her Department has made of the net Government funding of th
Answer: The Department for Transport's support for the 14 contracted operators and Network Rail was £9.60 per passenger journey in 2023/24 and £8.47 in 2024/25. It is currently estimated that this will steadily decrease to circa £7.40 in 2028/29, primarily drive...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRolling Stock: LeasingDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77156 on Rolling Stock: Leasing, whether any of the train operating companies transferred into public ownership since July 2024 have seen rolling stock leas
Answer: We are transferring currently franchised services into public ownership as current contracts expire, after they reach their contractual break point or if the contractual right to terminate is met - avoiding the need to pay compensation to the current oper...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84697 on Railways: Fares, what estimate her Department has made of the number and proportion of passengers who will pay a higher fare; and if she will publi
Answer: Future passenger fares under GBR are subject to ministerial decisions not yet made. Estimates therefore cannot be provided at this time.
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Automatic Number Plate RecognitionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 78690 on Car Parks: Surveillance, whether his Department plans to amend (a) guidance and (b) regulations on the use of autom
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 30th October 2025 to question 85357 where I confirmed that the government has no plans to amend the current restrictions regarding Automatic Number Plate Recognition for local authorities.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Industrial DisputesDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 77637 on Rail Strikes, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of using powers under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 in the con
Answer: Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) legislation was brought in under the Conservative Government and the Labour Government is repealing it. MSLs do not support a positive and productive relationship between employers, employees, and their trade unions. The impl...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82745 on Roads: Freight, if she will publish all substantive written representations her Department has received from the road haulage industry on road user
Answer: The Department has received no written representations on road user charges from the road haulage industry since July 2024.
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRestoring Your Railway FundTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86752More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82997 on the Restoring Your Railway Fund, whether the audit was independently reviewed by (a) the Office for Budget Responsibility and (b) another external body.
Answer: In July 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer instructed HM Treasury officials to undertake an audit of public spending. The audit’s findings showed a forecast overspend on departmental spending of £21.9 billion above the totals that had been set at Sprin...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRestoring Your Railway FundDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82997 on the Restoring Your Railway Fund, how much and what proportion of previously allocated funding has been (a) spent, (b) returned to the Treasury and
Answer: The Chancellor’s 29 July 2024 announcement confirmed that the Restoring Your Railway programme would be brought to a close, as one of the steps she was taking to address the pressures on the public finances created by unfunded policy announcements made by...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82986 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, how many UK-based sustainable aviation fuel production facilities have (a) commenced construction and (b) reached fina
Answer: The only commercial scale SAF producer in the UK is P66’s Humberside Refinery. Through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) we have awarded over £198m to 21 UK SAF projects. Information on these projects is published on gov.uk.There are a wide range of SAF proje...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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