Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Great British Railways: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an estimate of projected administrative savings from consolidating train operating companies under Great British Railways.
Answer: The Government expects to make efficiencies and savings through public ownership of rail services and from rail reform with the creation of Great British Railways. This means that the rail passenger services subsidy will reduce over the period covered by ...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Industrial DisputesDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2025 to Question 76656 on Railways: Industrial Disputes, whether her Department has (a) had discussions with (i) TransPennine Express and (ii) CrossCountry on industrial a
Answer: It is for a train operator, as employer, to negotiate terms and conditions that are fair to staff and affordable for taxpayers. Both CrossCountry and Transpennine Trains have kept officials informed on the progress of negotiations with the RMT. I understa...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMobility Scooters: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the review of powered mobility devices will consider (a) restricting and (b) prohibiting the use of mobility scooters on pavements.
Answer: Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are already legally restricted to 4 miles per hour on pavements. As part of the powered mobility device review, we intend to consult publicly to ensure everyone has the opportunity to give their views and make sur...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLower Thames CrossingDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71272 Lower Thames Crossing, for what reason no evaluation of the Lower Thames Crossing was completed prior to approval of the Full Business Case; and
Answer: The Full Business Case (FBC) for the scheme has not yet been developed. Decisions on the scheme remain subject to the Department’s established governance and assurance processes. These include rigorous internal scrutiny and oversight mechanisms, as well a...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: NationalisationDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 on Transfer of Greater Anglia’s Services into Public Ownership, HCWS949, whether her Department plans to (a) define and (b) publish guidanc
Answer: Ahead of the establishment of Great British Railways, public sector operators are managed by Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), the Government’s public sector owning group. As more services move into public ownership, DFTO will be able to i...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Anglia Rail Franchise: NationalisationDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will use the same performance metrics as were applied under private operation under public ownership of Greater Anglia; and if she will publish those metrics on (a) punctuality, (b) cance
Answer: While train operating companies will be measured on a similar basis, there will be a greater whole-industry focus for the growing group of public sector operators as we move towards GBR. GA Trains Limited will be required to meet targets for punctuality, ...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharitable DonationsTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82407More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that reforms to the charity tax regime do not discourage long-term endowment building by local community foundations.
Answer: Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs, worth over £6bn in 2024. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challe...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharitable DonationsTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82406More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) reviewing and (b) revising the proposed changes to (i) the definition of attributable income and (ii) charity donation rules during the consultation on the
Answer: Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs, worth over £6bn in 2024. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challe...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharitable DonationsTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82405More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to publish (a) examples and (b) guidance on the operation of the proposed outcome test for tainted charity donations; and what steps she is taking to prevent donors being penalised for actions bey
Answer: Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs, worth over £6bn in 2024. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challe...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharitable DonationsTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82404More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of including charitable legacies within the scope of income tax on levels of legacy giving to (a) charities and (b) community foundations.
Answer: Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs, worth over £6bn in 2024. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challe...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharitable DonationsTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82403More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to issue guidance for charitable trustees on the treatment of legacies under section 523A of the draft Finance Bill 2025–26.
Answer: Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs, worth over £6bn in 2024. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challe...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82402More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase business rates on (a) airports and (b) airport operators; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such an increase on regional airport (i) viability and (ii) conne
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) conducts analysis of changes in rateable value to prepare for regular revaluations. The VOA is currently working on a revaluation of all non-domestic properties, which will come into effect on 1 April 2026. For the upcomi...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82401More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to remove the 40-year Vehicle Excise Duty exemption for historic vehicles; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of such a change on (a) the classic car sector and (b) the
Answer: The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public fina...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to raise rail fares above the rate of inflation; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) passengers and (b) the economy.
Answer: No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares, but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers. There will be an update on changes to regulated rail fares in due course.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInsurance Premium TaxTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82399More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase the rate of Insurance Premium Tax; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) household and (b) business insurance costs.
Answer: Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a broad-based tax which raises important revenue to fund essential public services including the NHS, defence, and education. The rate of IPT has been unchanged since 2017.The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fisc...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: VATTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82398More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce or extend VAT to private hire vehicle journeys; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of such a measure on (a) fares for passengers and (b) small operators.
Answer: Private hire vehicle services provided by VAT-registered businesses are, and always have been, subject to VAT.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Passenger DutyTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82397More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase Air Passenger Duty on domestic or international flights; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) regional connectivity and (b) aviatio
Answer: Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tick...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82396More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase fuel duty; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on the (a) cost of living and (b) business transport costs.
Answer: The Government carefully considers the impact of fuel duty on households and businesses and the public finances, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what oversight exists of local authorities that (a) keep and (b) exhibit animals in public parks, and what steps her Department is taking to ensure such animals are kept in accordance
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that kept animals, including those accommodated or exhibited in public parks, are cared for in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Where a local authority itself exhibits animals, it is expected to m...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWorkplace Pensions: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78735More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Pensions (Abolition of Lifetime Allowance Charge etc) (No. 3) Regulations 2024 on people with enhance protection; and whether she has considered
Answer: We are aware that recent changes made to the scheme-specific lump sum calculation are not operating as intended for those with certain forms of transitional protection, including those with enhanced protection. The result is that in some cases, entitlemen...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHorse Racing: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing legislation to ensure that foals are not entered into competitive races.
Answer: Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare, may be banned from owning animals. T...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69609 on Defibrillators in non-emergency ambulances, whether his Department has made an assessment of the consistency of Integrated Care Board
Answer: The Department has not made an assessment centrally. It is local NHS commissioners who are responsible for managing the NHS budget and arranging NHS healthcare services which meet the needs of their respective populations.Patients should undergo assessmen...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78732More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to expand the range of defibrillator manufacturers and suppliers available through Government procurement frameworks.
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not currently offer a commercial agreement for defibrillators. CCS (an agency of the Cabinet Office) agreements do not cover medical devices; departments procure these through their own routes. NHS Supply Chain operates a commercia...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: Emergency ServicesHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that defibrillators are routinely procured and installed in (a) police cars and (b) other frontline public service vehicles.
Answer: Provision of defibrillators in police and fire vehicles is an operational matter for either the individual police force or fire and rescue service to determine at local level.The Home Office has been working to provide more defibrillators to all 43 forces...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: VATTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78730More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending existing VAT reliefs on defibrillators to cover direct purchases by (a) community groups, (b) sports clubs and (c) small businesses.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.The Government currently provides VAT...
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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