Richard Holden MP: written questions
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Written questions
Business Premises: Consumers and Trading StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of enforcement powers available to Trading Standards authorities at county level to take action against premises engaged in persistent breaches of consumer p
Answer: Local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales are responsible for delivering trading standards services, aiming to ensure fair trading and safeguard both consumers and reputable businesses. Trading standards services operate independently from central ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Hire ServicesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122264, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the six-day minimum hire threshold on value for money for Departments using short-t
Answer: The Government's policy is that all official travel must be efficient and cost-effective. Value for money of short-term vehicle hires is ensured through standard Government procurement and contract management processes. Guidance on the GFC can be found on...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: FacilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of (a) Australia’s National Freight Data Hub, (b) the United States’ Commodity Flow Survey and (c) the Republic of Korea’s Transport D
Answer: As noted in the answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120682, the Department for Transport recognises the value of international comparisons for its work, including (a) Australia’s National Freight Data Hub, (b) the United States’ Commodity Flow Survey and ...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving: Young PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 123237, whether her Department is considering the introduction of mandatory Restricted R plates or an equivalent post-test probationary scheme for newly quali
Answer: Whilst we are not considering mandatory Restricted ‘R’ plates for newly qualified drivers in Great Britain, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period in England, Scotland, and Wales before learner drivers can take their test. We know that introducing...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordParking: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120874, whether his Department plans to publish the baseline information it holds on private parking appeals; and if he will p
Answer: The government does not hold a breakdown of the number of disputes and appeals relating to private parking charges for each of the last five years. Some baseline information on private parking appeals includes information already in the public domain such...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: FerriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 118924, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the proportion of UK Emissions Trading Scheme costs in the maritime sector expected to
Answer: The Impact Assessment finds UK ETS compliance costs are modest relative to operators’ overall costs and does not identify significant consumer price impacts. This is expected to be consistent across maritime subsectors. For ferries and passenger services,...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Standards AgencyDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what manual paper-based processes are in operation at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answer: The vast majority of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main processes are digitised. Where any paper-based elements remain, DVSA continues to look to digitise these where possible. In a small number of cases, paper is used as part of proces...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCycleways: Horse RidingDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of opening cycleways to horse riders.
Answer: My Department has made no such assessment.Local authorities are responsible for the provision of cycling infrastructure and for considering appropriate provision for horse riders. The Highway Code is clear that cycle tracks are not intended for use by hor...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on a) drivers of extending the electric car grant; and b) motorcyclists of the planned cessation of the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant.
Answer: The £2 billion Electric Car Grant has been extended to 2030 to support drivers to purchase electric vehicles by reducing upfront costs. More than 90,000 people have already benefited from grants of up to £3,750 across 45 models. In February 2025, we annou...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104661, what estimate National Highways has made of the cost of constructing temporary slip roads at M6 junction 38.
Answer: National Highways is currently assessing the latest proposals for temporary slip roads at M6 Junction 38 and will feedback on this in due course.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the M6 Lune Gorge works on (a) freight movements and (b) connectivity between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Answer: For most of the M6 Lune Gorge works, traffic, including freight, will continue to use the M6 via a contraflow arrangement, which has been assessed as providing sufficient capacity to avoid significant delays. National Highways does not anticipate signific...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEmergency Services: CumbriaHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed junction 38 closures on emergency service response times in Cumbria.
Answer: Decisions on emergency service responses and traffic management decisions for motorway roadworks are for emergency service responders and National Highways, respectively. They have the expertise to make decisions with regard to responder access, public sa...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling has been undertaken on the potential impact of diverting traffic from the M6 onto local roads, including the A685, during the proposed closure of junction 38.
Answer: Current traffic management proposals for the M6 Lune Gorge project are being designed to keep traffic on the M6 motorway for the majority of the project. A contraflow system is planned on the M6 to provide a safe working area for construction, while maint...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the M6 junction 38 closures on (a) local businesses, (b) tourism and (c) employment in Cumbria.
Answer: The M6 Lune Gorge bridge works are being undertaken to avoid future emergency interventions, such as unplanned closures or restrictions, which would have greater adverse impacts on local businesses, tourism and employment in Cumbria. These works will main...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic, (b) traffic and (c) community impacts of the proposed closure of M6 junction 38 during the Lune Gorge bridge replacement works.
Answer: National Highways’ current traffic management proposals would keep Junction 38 of M6 partially open, apart from a limited number of full weekend and overnight closures. For the majority of the works, slip road closures would be phased, with traffic divert...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department will respond to the consultation entitled Changes to various permitted development rights for EV charging.
Answer: The Department ran a consultation between November 2025 and January 2026, seeking views on changes to permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging solutions and equipment housing. The Department will publish its response shortly.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTrainsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the decision was first taken to withdraw Class 455 units from the South Western Railway network; and how many such units were withdrawn in each month from the date that decision was taken until the final u
Answer: As part of the 2017 South Western refranchising competition, First MTR announced on 20 June 2017 that it would procure a new fleet of Aventra trains to operate on the Waterloo suburban routes over which Class 455 units operated. The Class 455 units were o...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: MarketingCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125222More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 111852, if he will list the seven approvals granted for branded items since 24 April 2025, including for each (a) the department or business unit, (b) the desc
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVSA has prepared a contingency plan for the operation of driving tests in the event of fuel rationing or wider fuel supply disruption.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has well-developed and tested contingency plans for a range of situations that could affect the provision of its services, including driving tests.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFreightDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120940, on what date the update to the road freight values of time in the Transport Analysis Guidance will be published.
Answer: We are planning to publish the road freight value of travel time updates as definitive changes to the Transport Analysis Guidance on 28th May.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTrains: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the current shortage of train drivers, broken down by Department for Transport Operator area, in terms of a) total number of drivers required, and b) percentage shortfal
Answer: The Department works with DFT Operator to ensure all operators have the appropriate resource to deliver timetabled services robustly, including train drivers. All train operating companies have been asked to complete a 7-point traincrew resourcing proposa...
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116574, what minimum number of public electric vehicle chargepoints her Department considers necessary by 2030 to meet anticipated demand; and how she will det
Answer: An estimate of potential future demand for chargers was originally published in the 2022 “Taking Charge: The National Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy” and was updated in 2024 to a range of 250,000 to 550,000 in 2030. Both the 2024 NAO ‘p...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 116783, on Energy: Housing, what assessment his Department has made of the aggregate impact on total household energy consumption of voltag
Answer: The lowering of voltage only reduces electricity consumption with resistive appliances. a)The relative proportion of appliances that are power-controlled vs resistive is moving in favour of power-controlled appliances due to changes in technology. For exa...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026Awaiting answerUIN 125211More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 119975 from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026Awaiting answerUIN 125210More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 119907 tabled by the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire on 11 March 2026.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament record
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