Richard Holden MP: written questions
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Written questions
Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times has the Drone Task Force met since 4 July 2024, which Ministers in Government Departments and private sector companies constitute it, and which a) countries and b) companies are they engaged with i
Answer: The Department does not recognise any body titled the “Drone Task Force”.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAerospace Growth PartnershipDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many times the Aerospace Growth Partnership has met since 4 July 2024; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential economic merits of the Aerospace Growth Partnership .
Answer: Since 4 July 2024 the Aerospace Growth Partnership Board has met 12 times. Through our Industrial Strategy, government has committed to supporting the sector to increase its share of the global market from 10% to 15% and secure at least £35billion of addi...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAircraft: Exhaust EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of contrails on its Airspace Modernisation Strategy.
Answer: The Airspace Modernisation Strategy supports the aviation sector in reducing emissions through aircraft flying more direct routes. Contrails arise from a combination of jet fuel combustion, air particles, water vapour and atmospheric conditions, and as su...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Aeronautical SocietyDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has held discussions with the Royal Aeronautical Society since July 2024.
Answer: My officials routinely engage with a broad range of aviation stakeholders, including the Royal Aeronautical Society, to support strong and effective collaboration between government and industry on aviation related matters.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed Two: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are employed by the HS2 Ltd Helpdesk.
Answer: Twenty FTE (Full Time Equivalent) staff are employed on the HS2 Ltd helpdesk.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: ProcurementDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects the procurement of the Washwood Heath Depot for HS2 to conclude.
Answer: The Department is going through their governance approval to conclude the procurement for Washwood Heath Depot (WWH). We expect to award the contract in the coming weeks.
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: Affordable HousingDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many social and affordable homes are planned as part of the redevelopment of land at and around Euston associated with the HS2 programme.
Answer: We are working at pace with our Master Development Partner, Lendlease, on a Masterplan for Euston, with an emphasis on growth and delivering much needed housing, and will set out a clear plan in due course. Further, the government has appointed Bek Seeley...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 March 2026 on Rail Infrastructure, HCWS1433, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing the operating speed of HS2 on passenger
Answer: The Secretary of State has requested that Mark Wild look at ways to remove gold plating and complexity from the HS2 project, and if a slightly reduced specification could save time and money. We will not make the same mistakes of the past of making change...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 March 2026 on Rail Infrastructure, HCWS1433, when she next plans to publish an update on the progress of the HS2 reset.
Answer: As the Secretary of State indicated in her interim parliamentary report of 23 March 2026, the government intends to publish a more detailed update on the progress of the HS2 reset shortly.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMark WildDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date (a) Mark Wild’s contract as Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd was signed, (b) his appointment was publicly announced and (c) he took up his role.
Answer: Mark Wild’s contract with HS2 Ltd was signed on 10 May 2024, his appointment was announced on 24 May 2024, and he started the role on 2 December 2024.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2026WithdrawnUIN 123708More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 120875 from the Rt Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordHome Office: Written QuestionsHome OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to Question 119499 from the Rt Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
Answer: The Rt Hon Member received a response to PQ UIN 119499 on 20th April 2026.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123706More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 119486 from the Rt Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
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 recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: Written QuestionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 117002 from the Rt Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
Answer: I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 March 2026 to Question 117002.
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123704More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 111850 from the Rt Hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay.
Answer: A response has been issued here.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number Plates: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential remits of (a) stopping the production of number plates with raised lettering (b) amending the BS AU 145f standards for number plates to make (i) clone pl
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is part of the British Standards Institution (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates, BS AU 145e. The proposed amendments to the British Standard include measures int...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: Electric VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reopen or replace the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme for new applicants in 2026.
Answer: The Government is not planning to re-open the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator to new applications. On 25 March, Government announced £1 billion in funding to support the rollout of zero emission HGVs up to 2030, including the Zero Emissi...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been implemented by his Department as a result of operational lessons identified from the war in Ukraine, including (a) force structure and procurement priorities, (b) stockpiling and supply cha
Answer: The UK's Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster 'learn and adapt' cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine and tactics. More broadly, the Strategic Defence Review considered al...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war on the use of unmanned systems in warfare; and what steps his Department is takin
Answer: The UK’s Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster ‘learn and adapt’ cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine, and tactics. More broadly, the Strategic Defence Review considered a...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120007 on High Speed 2 Line: Finance, whether reductions in the specified top speed of High Speed Two trains are being considered as part of efforts to align
Answer: No. The Spending Review settlement for the current period is not dependent on the consideration of the top speed of HS2.
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCompetition and Markets Authority: CostsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120645 on Competition and Markets Authority: Costs, whether the Competition and Markets Authority holds internal management information on the resour
Answer: The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) holds internal management information on the resource and costs associated with its Sustainability Taskforce since its establishment:FYStaff CostsNon-Staff CostsTotal CostFull-Time Equivalent2023-24£418,715.01...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Subsistence AllowancesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 120043 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Official Cars, whether she will provide a hyperlink to the Department’s Travel and Subsisten
Answer: The travel and subsistence policy is an internal DCMS document which is currently under review by the department. Officials will follow the general principles for travel section of the policy attached.
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordIntellectual Property Office: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123245More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 120035 on Intellectual Property Office; Environmental Protection, what the (a) capital cost and (b) estimated annual energy savings a
Answer: Both the gas boilers at the Intellectual Property Office warehouse facility and the air‑conditioning units had reached the end of their operational life and required replacement. They have been replaced with more energy‑efficient systems to improve perfor...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHybrid Vehicles: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116554. whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the analysis conducted by Thatcham Research on behalf
Answer: The findings of Thatcham Research’s analysis align with the Department's wider understanding of the issues considered. The Department will continue to consider this analysis, and wider evidence sources, in its ongoing work to develop future policy and uph...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesMinistry of JusticeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his 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 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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