Richard Holden MP: written questions
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Written questions
Driving Tests: VacanciesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 117909, how many customers have been referred to DVSA Driving Examiner roles via Jobcentre Plus in each of the six priority locations.
Answer: A total of 85 customers were referred by DWP to DVSA Test Centres across the six priority locations. From this number, 37 passed the assessment and have been offered roles. DVSA provided feedback on a further 26 who were unsuccessful but showed clear pote...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 119492, if she will publish details of the (a) month and (b) year she expects the reset of the High Speed Two programme to be completed.
Answer: The HS2 programme reset is underway and we are committed to updating parliament on progress on the reset in due course.
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122243More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 118908, what assessment underpins increases in rateable values of up to 295% for UK civil airports between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2024; and what specific economi
Answer: All assessments are underpinned by statutory assumptions defined in Schedule 6 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. For the 2026 revaluation, we consider general economic circumstances and the receipts and expenditure relevant to individual airports ...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120007, whether any elements of the HS2 programme’s scope, specification or associated works are expected to change in order to align the programme with the S
Answer: The Spending Review settlement profiles reflects the scope, specification and associated works that the HS2 programme plans to deliver over the period. The HS2 programme reset work that Mark Wild is currently undertaking is underpinned by the Spending Rev...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power Station: Disclosure of InformationCabinet OfficeTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122241More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120628, whether any Government department or agency holds documents released to the media in March 2025 in relation to the employment tribunal involving the Dr
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not hold any documents released to the media in March 2025 in relation to the employment tribunal involving the Drax whistleblower. As this matter related to an employment tribunal at a private company, it is not a matter in which ...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Routes: CornwallDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to end the PSO route to Cornwall on the economy.
Answer: The decision not to proceed with the Public Service Obligation (PSO) was a matter for Cornwall Council. The Department continues to work with Cornwall Council to explore commercial options for the route. It is important to note that connectivity continues...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the 1.) Network Railcard, 2.) 16-17 Saver, 3.) 16-25 Railcard, 4.) 26-30 Railcard, 5.) Family & Friends Railcard, 6.) Two Together Railcard, 7.) Senior Railcard, 8.) Disabled Persons Railca
Answer: Railcard schemes are run by the Rail Delivery Group, and scheme costs are covered by the revenue generated.
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDfT OperatorDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119493, what roles and functions the 210 staff transferring to DfT Operator Ltd on 1 April 2026 will undertake; from which directorates and business units wit
Answer: The functions in scope to transfer from DfT to DFTO include the majority of the Rail Services Group, as well as a small number of teams in the Rail Reform and Strategy Group and the Corporate Delivery Group. The majority of roles transferring relate to ra...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 117438 on Great British Railways: Finance, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing details of the modelling, business case develo
Answer: The Department has considered this and has no plans to publish the details of internal modelling or initial business case development which informed the savings from corporate initiatives in the Department’s Efficiency Plan.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120007, whether any elements of the HS2 programme’s scope, specification or associated works are expected to change in order to align the programme with the S
Answer: The Spending Review settlement profiles reflects the scope, specification and associated works that the HS2 programme plans to deliver over the period. The HS2 programme reset work that Mark Wild is currently undertaking is underpinned by the Spending Rev...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: VacanciesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 117905 on Driving Tests: Vacancies, which DVSA driving test centres have had live Driving Examiner vacancies; what dates those vacancies were first listed; an
Answer: As stated in the answer to Question 117906 the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not hold centrally a snapshot of the total number of driving examiner vacancies by calendar month but continually reviews its workforce requirements in response...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: FerriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK ETS compliance costs on ferry fares for passengers and businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector using the Isle of Wig
Answer: The Impact Assessment does not identify significant consumer price impacts and finds that compliance costs for domestic maritime operators are modest relative to their overall operating costs, with fuel and carbon costs forming only one part of total runn...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBuses: Electric VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 117436 on Buses: Electric Vehicles, when she expects officials to complete their investigation into reports on Chinese-manufactured electric buses; which mont
Answer: The Transport Secretary remains committed to updating the Transport Select Committee on the reports on ‘Yutong’ electric buses.It would not be appropriate to disclose any information before first updating the Committee.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Business BankDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 120045 on British Business Bank, what the total monetary value is of support provided to funds, schemes and portfolio companies described as relating
Answer: The British Business Bank does not centrally classify funds, schemes or portfolio companies under the categories of net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability, climate transition or the green economy in the form requested.The Bank’s approach is to embed su...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrogen Dioxide: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 119491, if she will break down the £478 million whole-life cost of the NO2 Programme by (a) funding stream, including the Implementa
Answer: The Department for Transport provides all capital funding and a small amount of resource funding.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Colour Vision DeficiencyDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116584 on Aviation: Colour Vision Deficiency, what independent analysis reported that only the CAD test and anomaloscopes when used correctly have 100% sensiti
Answer: The analysis in question is a paper from a French research group that was published in a peer reviewed journal in 2018. The reference is: Marechal M, Delbarre M, Tesson J et al. Color vision tests in pilots’ medical assessments. Aerosp Med Hum Perform Aug...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of potholes filled in (a) 2023–24, (b) 2024-25 (c) 2025-26.
Answer: As announced in March 2025, local highway authorities had to publish transparency reports about their highways maintenance activities to unlock their full share of the Government’s £500m uplift for local highways maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: International Parking CommunityDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what oversight the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency exercises over the International Parking Community (IPC) as an accredited trade association whose members access DVLA vehicle keeper data; whether the DVLA
Answer: The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to disclose the contact details of registered keepers of UK vehicles for a number of lawful purposes. Information needed to manage parking on private land is provided only to private parking o...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost per kWh is for ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging; and how this has changed since 2021.
Answer: This information is available from external industry sources such as Zapmap, who estimate that the current average cost of rapid/ultra rapid public charging is around 76p/kWh, as of February 2026. This price level has remained broadly constant over the pa...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the development and implementation timetable of PAS 2161, the proposed national data standard for road condition monitoring, and what assessment her Department has made of its pot
Answer: DfT worked with local authorities and the wider highways industry to develop the PAS 2161:2024 Road condition monitoring (RCM) data specification which was published in September 2024, and is available online, at: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/r...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBridleways and Public Footpaths: Horse RidingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered amending section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 to permit equestrians to use rights of way currently designated as footpaths; what assessment she
Answer: The Government has no plans to amend section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 to permit equestrian use of footpaths and as such, has not assessed the potential im-pact of this change.Defra has not made a specific assessment of the administrative workload as...
Answered 20 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAbnormal LoadsHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to introduce nationally consistent guidance on the interpretation of regulations governing abnormal load movements and police escort requirements.
Answer: There are no current plans by government to introduce national guidance governing the movement of abnormal loads.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 118861 on Approved Driving Instructors: Standards, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans to introduce arrangements
Answer: Anyone wishing to become an ADI must pass the statutory ADI tests. More information on the steps to becoming an ADI can be found on GOV.UK. To maintain and monitor standards of instruction, each ADI can be called by the ADI Registrar for a standards check...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what assessment her Department has made of the £2.50 fee charged by the DVLA for the release of vehicle keeper data to private parking companies, b) what analysis has been conducted on the volume of keeper d
Answer: Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to release vehicle keeper details from its vehicle record where the requester can demonstrate reasonable cause to recei...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCrown Prosecution Service: StaffAttorney GeneralTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121408More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of a full-time employee of the Crown Prosecution Service serving in the role of Lead Adjudicator for the Independent Appeals Service; and whether t
Answer: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has established policies and procedures in place to identify, declare and manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest, including where members of staff hold external roles or appointments.The CPS Code of...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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