Richard Holden MP: written questions 2024
322 published records · newest first.
Written questions
10 Downing Street: Social MediaCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18214More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there are plans for 10 Downing Street to communicate via the Blue Sky social media channel.
Answer: The Government continues to look at ways to make sure the government’s digital communications better reflect the way the public now consumes information online.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinisters: ConvictionsCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18213More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has a policy on appointing Ministers of the Crown with (a) spent and (b) unspent criminal convictions.
Answer: There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: Special AdvisersCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18212More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers in 10 Downing Street cover foreign affairs.
Answer: Special adviser appointments are published annually.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: AviationCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18211More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether members of the Lobby may take photographs on flights travelling with the Prime Minister.
Answer: The lobby is able to take photographs on flights with the Prime Minister when conditions allow.
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSue GrayCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18210More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when Sue Gray's employment as a special adviser ended.
Answer: Sue Gray’s employment as a special adviser ended on 6 October 2024 following her resignation that day.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinisterial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991Cabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18209More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to amend the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Answer: The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (MoPSA) includes provision for severance payments to ministers and certain office-holders.The Chancellor announced in July that ahead of the Spending Review she would review eligibility for minister...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLouise HaighCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18208More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister became aware of the previous fraud conviction of the former Transport Secretary, the Rt Hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statements the Prime Minister has already made about the former Transport Secretary’s resignation at Prime Minister’s questions on 4 December.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the (a) environmental principles and (b) equalities impact assessment for the Chagos Islands handover decision.
Answer: HM Government recognises the importance of environmental and equalities considerations in the context of the BIOT Sovereignty agreement. Both parties have committed to ensuring that all aspects of the sovereignty transfer align with international legal st...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordParthenon SculpturesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions the Prime Minister has had with (a) representatives of the British Museum and (b) the Greek government on the Elgin Marbles.
Answer: The Prime Minister met the Greek Prime Minister on 3rd December. I would refer the Rt Hon Member to the read-out of their meeting. Decisions relating to the care and management of the Parthenon Sculptures are a matter for the British Museum Trustees.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFormer Prime Ministers: ConvictionsCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18205More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 4 December 2024, Official Report, column 291, on what evidential basis he stated that two of the Leader of the Opposition’s predecessors had conviction
Answer: My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister was referring to the Fixed Penalty Notices received by two former Prime Ministers for breaking COVID lockdown rules. The Prime Minister is happy to clarify that a Fixed Penalty Notice does not constitute a criminal conv...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: ConvictionsCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18204More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Government holds on how many Ministers have criminal convictions.
Answer: There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: Self-assessmentCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18203More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister plans to publish his tax return on gov.uk for 2023-24.
Answer: There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.As set out in the List of Ministers' Interests...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on (a) primary care, (b) hospitals and (c) Pharmacy First.
Answer: We know that patients are struggling to access their general practice (GP), especially throughout the winter period when demand is higher. We committed to restoring the front door of the National Health Service by shifting the focus of the NHS out of hosp...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrusts: Bank ServicesTreasuryTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17258More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of changes in the number of firms offering bank accounts for trusts.
Answer: Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government and is vital to supporting people’s financial resilience and wellbeing, and ensuring that individuals are able to fully part...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordInheritance Tax: Tax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17257More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in liability for inheritance tax on levels of tax avoidance.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to restore economic stability, fix the public finances, and support public services. These were tough decisions given the situation we i...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordClubs: Fees and ChargesCabinet OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17256More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether club memberships are paid for from the public purse for (a) staff, (b) contractors and (c) other employees.
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not pay for staff membership fees for any clubs.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHIV/AIDS: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of (a) HIV and (b) AIDS have been diagnosed due to mandatory opt-out testing in hospitals.
Answer: The bloodborne viruses (BBVs) opt-out testing in emergency departments programme has identified 391 people with new HIV diagnoses between April 2022 and December 2023. In addition, 314 people were identified with HIV who had been previously diagnosed. Dat...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVeteransMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15241, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans who are (a) eligible for Pension Credit and (b) have an income of less than £12,500 a year.
Answer: The information is not held in the format requested. We currently do not have the data to allow us to make such estimates.
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCoal: Imports and MiningDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) importing coal from overseas and (b) mining coal in the UK on the environment.
Answer: On 14th November 2024 the Government announced its intention to restrict the licensing of new coal mines: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-11-14/hcws215 The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the enviro...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGuardianship and Parents: PrisonersDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to collate a national register of pupils with (a) parents and (b) primary carers in prison.
Answer: The department knows growing up with a parent or primary carer in prison can have a devastating impact on a child’s life chances. The government has a key mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, which is why the department has c...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMathematics and English language: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to increase the number and proportion of pupils attaining a pass grade in GSCE (a) maths and (b) English by the age of (i) 16 and (ii) 18.
Answer: High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which will seek t...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSixth Form Colleges: PayDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that pay rates of teachers in sixth form colleges match those of school teachers.
Answer: This government is committed to ensuring that there is a thriving further education (FE) sector, which is vital to its missions to break down the barriers to opportunity and boost economic growth. The government is not responsible for, and plays no role i...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: ExportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding her Department has provided to help support small and medium-sized enterprises to export in each of the last 15 years; and how much funding his Department has made available for this p
Answer: Given changes within the department and across government over the last 15 years further information on export specific funding cannot be provided without breaching the disproportionate cost limit.The cost of support for SMEs to export over the previous 7...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGreen BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and (b) properties built on the grey belt have access to sufficient quantiti
Answer: Through the Development Consent process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, applicants will undertake water resource assessments for their projects and consultations with water authorities. This ensures that water infrastructure is planned...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDiscretionary Trusts: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16520More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to agricultural property relief and business property relief at the Autumn Budget 2024 on discretionary trusts.
Answer: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. It is expected that up to around 2...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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