Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent ReviewCabinet OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85918More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 71197 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, when the UK Statistics Authority plans to publish (a) the synthesis of work an
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 28th October is attached.
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLobbying: Official HospitalityCabinet OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85917More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 76050 on Lobbying: Official Hospitality, if he will publish guidance on the holding of departmental receptions at the offices of consultant lobbying firms;
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to Question 76050. There is no data held centrally by the Cabinet Office on departments' externally hosted events.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85916More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September 2025 to Question 71194 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Equality, what mechanisms are in place to ensure (a) consistency and (b) value for money in the recruitme
Answer: Recruitment is delegated to Government Departments based on their workforce strategy.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBingo: TaxationTreasuryTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85915More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of existing rates of gaming duty on the land-based bingo sector in the context of (a) the pandemic and (b) trends in operating costs.
Answer: No formal assessment has been made. Bingo Duty is charged at 10% of a Bingo Hall’s Gross Gaming Yield and is the second lowest rate of the seven gambling duties.The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy ...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: AutomationDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77648 on Railways: Automation, whether the take-up of automated train operation technology will form part of the bespoke performance standards to be applied
Answer: The Government will continue to consider the most appropriate ways to deliver a modern railway that provides benefits for passengers and taxpayers, including through improved performance. We will always assess the opportunity for making best use of techno...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Bus LanesDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59359 and the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 77650 on Motorcycles: Bus Lanes, how many and what proportion of respondents to the consultation were (a) i
Answer: This information is contained in the ‘Motorcycles in bus lanes consultation outcome’ published on 21 November 2024 and available here:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motorcycles-in-bus-lanes
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78709 on Great British Railways: Staff, if she will make an estimate of the number of staff who will be employed by Great British Railways once those transf
Answer: GBR will be established as a consolidated new arms-length body from more than 17 existing organisations, and as a result, we estimate it will employ around 90,000 staff. We are developing GBR’s design and resourcing model to ensure GBR is an agile and eff...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78691 on Railways: Concessions, whether Great British Railways plans to use ticket pricing to (a) manage demand and (b) reduce crowding on trains.
Answer: Great British Railways (GBR) will be empowered to deliver industry-wide modernisation and fares reform, including considering the most effective ways to manage issues such as crowding. We are already making progress in considering options to address this,...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the impact of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate on average airline ticket prices in (a) 2025, (b) 2026 and (c) each of the next ten years.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 23 October 2025, to Question UIN 78707 page 61 of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate Final stage Cost Benefit Analysis, covers estimates on air fares. We recognise the importance of protecting consumers fr...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: LicensingDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent taxi drivers being licensed in one authority and operating in another.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 September 2025, to Question UIN 76341.
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of progress towards the (a) lower bound and (b) mid-point rollout figures of the 2030 demand projection range for public electric vehicle chargepoints; and what the
Answer: As of 1 October 2025, Government and industry have supported the installation of 86,021 publicly available charging devices, up 23% on this time last year. The Department does not project an annual installation rate but, as noted by the National Audit Off...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffice of Rail and RoadDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to retain statutory independence for the Office of Rail and Road in relation to its (a) appeal and (b) enforcement functions following the establishment of Great British Railways.
Answer: Following the establishment of Great British Railways, the Office for Rail and Road will continue to have an independent statutory role, including in hearing appeals and providing enforcement across key areas. More detail on the proposed role of the Offic...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Exhaust EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's net zero transport spending commitments on its capital allocation for (a) road maintenance, (b) HGV parking and (c) freight infras
Answer: All spending allocations were agreed as part of the Spending Review process to deliver Departmental priorities, including road maintenance, HGV parking and freight infrastructure, alongside specific commitments that would support delivery of net zero. Thi...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help (a) promote UK-based innovation in road (i) maintenance and (ii) resurfacing and (b) ensure that (A) public procurement and (B) supply chain standards support the adoption of su
Answer: The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is determined to support local highway authorities in adopting new and innovative technologies to maintain and improve their highway networks in a way that is cost effective and reduces ...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Innovate UK and (b) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on (i) supporting research, development and commercialisation of (A) advanced road surfacing materials and
Answer: Advanced road surfacing materials, including graphene-enhanced and recycled products have the potential to deliver significant benefits to the UK, through helping deliver cost effective and long-lasting road surfaces. They may also present an opportunity ...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Automatic Number Plate RecognitionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October to Question 78690 on Automatic Number Plate Recognition, whether his Department plans to change rules on the use of automatic number plate re
Answer: The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), or indeed any surveillance technology, as the sole means of enforcement of parking contraventions by local authorities was restricted by the Deregulation Act 2015.The government has received advice fro...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85356More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector on (a) 4 July 2024 and (b) the most recent date for which data is available.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th October is attached.
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82740 on Electric Vehicles: Manufacturing, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Electric Car Grant on (a) new jobs created and (b) jo
Answer: The Department does not hold this information.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Anglia Rail Franchise: NationalisationDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82408 on Railways: Public Ownership, what the targets are for (a) punctuality, (b) reliability, (c) service quality and (d) customer satisfaction for GA Tra
Answer: GA Trains Limited took over ownership of operations on the Greater Anglia route on 12 October 2025 and is now in its transitional phase to embed the new Services Agreement requirements. During this transitional phase GA Trains Limited will continue to pub...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Industrial DisputesDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82734 on Railways: Industrial Disputes, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of industrial action relating to new technology paym
Answer: It is for a train operator, as employer, to negotiate terms and conditions that are fair to staff and affordable for taxpayers. Operators have kept officials informed on the progress of their negotiations with the RMT on this matter.CrossCountry and RMT r...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85352More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82402 on Airports: Business Rates, what the rateable value is of each airport that may be uprated; what the proposed revaluation from the Valuation Office Agency
Answer: Due to legislation protecting taxpayer confidentiality, the VOA is unable to disclose information about individual ratepayers or properties; this also includes proposed rateable values. The VOA are currently working on a revaluation of all non-domestic pr...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the full scheme costs for all Strategic Road Network projects will be published in the final Road Investment Strategy 3 document.
Answer: The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will be published in March 2026 and will include a total funding line for all enhancements to the strategic road network to be delivered during the period 2026-2031.
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEvents Industry and Logistics: VisasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support his Department is providing to UK companies in the (a) events and (b) logistics sectors affected by EU visa and travel restrictions under the Schengen 90/180-day rule.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recognises the challenges UK businesses face in complying with the Schengen 90/180 day rule. I note many of these stem from the botched Brexit deal which he supported. Any changes to the rule are a matter for Me...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFreight: EU CountriesDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Schengen 90/180-day rule on UK-based haulage companies operating in the European Union.
Answer: The Schengen 90/180-day immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and coaches) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLogistics: VisasCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85348More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on securing exemptions from the Schengen 90/180-day rule for UK (a) road haulage and (b) touring logistics professionals.
Answer: The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. UK nationals can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard fo...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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