Richard Holden MP: written questions
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Written questions
Network Rail: Public RelationsDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has Network Rail undertaken on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.
Answer: From July 2024 to March 2026, Network Rail spent £372,914 on its Stakeholder Engagement Services contract. This contract supports Network Rail's duties as a public body to ensure that a wide range of statutory consultees, national and regional representat...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: EmailCabinet OfficeTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127539More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025, to Question 41645, on Cabinet Office: Email, what are the automatic deletion policies for non-Ministerial inboxes for officials currently in post in the Cabinet Office, wh
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: ExtraditionHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127538More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, where the extradition is sought by foreign governments of sitting Members of Parliament who are (a) UK nationals and (b) dual nationals, whether the Speake
Answer: This is not a question for the Commission.
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPoliceCabinet OfficeTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127537More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Downing Street press release of 9 April 2025, on policing, what definition the Prime Minister’s office uses of the term 'across the country' in official communications.
Answer: An official definition does not exist, but it is a term that will be widely recognised by the public.
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: PackagingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to the HMT policy paper, "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published on 17 March 2025, whether the Food Standard Agency’s commitment to meet EU regulatory re
Answer: The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) commitment to support United Kingdom businesses in meeting European Union regulatory requirements for food-grade recycled plastics is not a deregulatory policy. It reflects a facilitative and proportionate approach that s...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordKatharine BirbalsinghDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39574 on Katharine Birbalsingh, when the final note was shared.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record9 Downing Street: MediaCabinet OfficeTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127534More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30828 on 9 Downing Street: Media, which scheduled transparency return will publish the OCS invoice; and on which date.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: DefibrillatorsHome OfficeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of equipping all police cars with defibrillators.
Answer: Provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in police vehicles is currently an operational matter for police forces to decide at local level. I have had several meetings on the value of equipping all police cars with defibrillators and I am care...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCumbrian Coast Line: TunnelsDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the delay to repairs at Bransty Tunnel on the Cumbrian Coast Line, including (a) the reasons why no works have commenced eight months after closure, (b) the status of environment
Answer: Network Rail is responsible for the delivery of works at Bransty Tunnel, and my officials are supporting Network Rail on this matter. The issue at Bransty Tunnel was identified when Network Rail, as part of routine planned maintenance and renewals, undert...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information her Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on overseas marriages.
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail LineDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the East West Rail route, a) how many train movements have taken place on that route in the last 12 months; and b) how many of those movements were i) steam-hauled trains, ii) diesel passenger
Answer: Along the East West Rail route, from 5th April 2025 - 4th April 2026 there have been 2257 train movements. This includes 4 stream trains and 60 diesel passenger trains. 2193 other non-passenger or testing services have taken place, including freight train...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Transport Police: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 123167 on British Transport Police: Finance, whether the cost of the British Transport Police has been included in the Government’s cost estimates for rail na
Answer: The British Transport Police’s budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority, who are the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. They have already agreed a budget settlement with the Force up to 202...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: Written QuestionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 107772 from the Rt hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2026 to Question 107772.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 121006, when the planned review of the funding formula for highways maintenance will commence.
Answer: Any review would be conducted to align with the end of the period for which highways maintenance block allocations have already been made.
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: CompensationDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 908536 on Road Works: Compensation, if her Department plans to approve further lane rental schemes in 2026.
Answer: Legislation is being laid shortly to bring seven new lane rental schemes into force. We are also devolving approval powers to mayoral authorities, with further applications continuing to be assessed.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Hire ServicesDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122287 on Motor Vehicles: Hire Services, how many category M1 and N1 vehicles are exempt from the Government Fleet Commitment by default; and if she will prov
Answer: Data for the Greening Government Commitments framework for 2021-25, including the Government Fleet Commitment (GFC), was collected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and published on GOV.UK, available here: https://www.gov.u...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Hire ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122592 on Electric Vehicles: Hire Services, whether her Department plans to break down the data by owned fleet and hired vehicles.
Answer: Data for the Greening Government Commitments framework for 2021-25, including the Government Fleet Commitment (GFC), was collected by Defra and published on GOV.UK. Reporting for the GFC was required for both owned fleet and hired vehicles as set out in t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: AlbaniaDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039 on Department for Transport: Aviation, if she will set out (a) what the purpose was of each such visit, (b) which Ministers or senior officials approve
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FranchisesDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121319 on Bus Services: Franchises, if she will provide a breakdown of the additional funding from 2026/27 by (a) funding stream, (b) annual allocation for ea
Answer: The Government is providing two funding streams to support authorities who wish to franchise their bus services. The first is a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities that have commenced the statutory franchis...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test centres recorded the maximum waiting time of 24 weeks for a practical car test for each month since January 2026.
Answer: The table below shows how many driving test centres (DTC) recorded a waiting time of 24 weeks for a practical car driving test for January, February, and March 2026. MonthNumber of DTCs with a wait time of 24 weeksJanuary 2026157February 2026186March 2026...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a practical car driving test was in each month since January 2026 up to and including the most recent month for which figures are available.
Answer: The table below shows how many driving test centres (DTC) recorded a waiting time of 24 weeks for a practical car driving test for January, February, and March 2026. MonthNumber of DTCs with a wait time of 24 weeksJanuary 2026157February 2026186March 2026...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: RecruitmentDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent driving examiners recruited by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were (a) in post and (b) delivering practical car driving tests in each month since February 2026 up to and i
Answer: The table below shows how many driving test centres (DTC) recorded a waiting time of 24 weeks for a practical car driving test for January, February, and March 2026. MonthNumber of DTCs with a wait time of 24 weeksJanuary 2026157February 2026186March 2026...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127160More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of people who were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector in each month since September 2025 up to and including the most recent month for which figur
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th April is attached.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Railway Benefit FundDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the future role of the Railway Benefit Fund under Great British Railways.
Answer: The Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), which is the working name of the ‘Railway Benevolent Institution’, is an independent non-membership charity, supported by charitable fundraising and donations, and regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. ...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: Public ConsultationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105309 on Animal Welfare, when her Department plans to launch the consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisat
Answer: The Government has committed to launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations, as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy published on 22 December 2025. This will be delivered in due course and will seek views from all those...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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