Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Eating DisordersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 101856, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Food Scanner app on people with eating disorders.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 January 2026 to Question 101856.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: InfrastructureDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of co-funding transport infrastructure associated with port developments; and what criteria will be used to determine when such co-funding is appropriate.
Answer: The UK’s ports sector is largely privately owned and operated, with the Government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports efficient operation and investment. The Government provides targeted support where there are ...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2026 to Question 101488, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of removing or consolidating lower-cost rail fares as part of fare simplificati
Answer: As part of our reforms to the railways, we are making fares easier to understand, so that passengers can buy tickets with confidence, knowing they are getting the right fare every time. Under Great British Railways (GBR), passengers will enjoy a consisten...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: BasildonDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 101827, if she will publish the estimates of future passenger demand being used to inform strategic planning across the Essex Thameside area, including an a
Answer: Network Rail is responsible for developing estimates of passenger and freight future demand, working closely and collaboratively with train operating companies, local authorities, freight operators and other relevant stakeholders. The Eastern region plann...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIntellectual Property Office: Carbon Emissions and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the cost to the Intellectual Property Office was in 2024–25 of policies, programmes or staffing related to net zero, sustainability or green innovation objectives.
Answer: The Intellectual Property Office spent a total of £132,103 on policies, programmes or staffing related to net zero, sustainability or green innovation objectives in 2024-25.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCompetition and Markets Authority: Carbon Emissions and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to the Competition and Markets Authority was in 2024–25 of work related to net zero, sustainability or climate policy, including staff time, research, guidance and enforcement activity.
Answer: The data recorded by the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) enables it to track costs across the projects it undertakes and the functions it performs. However, it is not able from this data to accurately estimate the costs incurred in relation to t...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Export Finance: Carbon Emissions and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to UK Export Finance was in 2024–25 of policies, programme changes, due-diligence requirements or staffing linked to net zero, climate or sustainability objectives.
Answer: Full details of the activities undertaken by UK Export Finance (UKEF) relating to net zero, climate or sustainability objectives can be found in the UK Export Finance Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Business Bank: Carbon Emissions and Environment ProtectionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the total cost to the British Business Bank was in 2024–25 of policies, programmes and staffing related to net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability or the green economy, broken down by a) program
Answer: The British Business Bank does not record or allocate its costs based on thematic categories such as net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability or the green economy. Its programme expenditure, staffing costs, and consultancy and professional services are m...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost was of his Department's initiatives aimed at reducing official travel emissions in 2024–25, including behavioural programmes, reporting systems and policy compliance activity.
Answer: Records are not held that identify the cost of the Department's initiatives aimed at reducing official travel emissions including behavioural programmes, reporting systems and policy compliance activity.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record10 Downing Street: ArtworksCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108796More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the portrait of William Shakespeare was removed from the Pillared Room in 10 Downing Street.
Answer: The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time. The portrait was pre-planned to be moved by the Governm...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHM Coastguard: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Court of Appeal judgment in Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groom [2026] EWCA Civ 6 and (b) Employment Rights Act 2025 on the operatio
Answer: The Department and Maritime and Coastguard Agency is currently evaluating the judgment of the court of appeal and is carefully considering next steps to agree the future operational model for the Coastguard Rescue Service. This includes extensive consulta...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordWheels to Work Schemes: Young PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of the Wheels to Work scheme on youth unemployment; and what steps she is taking to support that scheme.
Answer: On 10 December the Government announced £626 million for local authorities from 2026 to 2030 to deliver new active travel schemes, building on nearly £300 million already allocated for 2024 to 2026. While the Department has made no assessment of Wheels to...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to differentiate between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including within the Integrated National Transport Strategy.
Answer: The Department for Transport already makes a differentiation between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including the upcoming national strategy for integrated transport. The Road Safety Strategy ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTransport for London: Govia Thameslink RailwayDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104872, when her Department expects to conclude its assessment of Transport for London’s proposal for Great Northern inner services.
Answer: The Department is continuing to review the proposal and is working with Transport for London to assess its benefits and wider implications, including the financial and operational impacts. No timeline for a decision has yet been set, but this work is cont...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMarriage: RelativesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England’s investigation into guidance and training materials relating to marriage between close relatives began; which guidance, training modules and programmes are within scope of that in
Answer: The internal review in response to recent concerns that National Health Service guidance stated the benefits of close relative marriage began on 19 January 2026. All public documents which constitute training modules, or guidance regarding marriage betwee...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how her Department assesses how effectively local highway authorities are spending pothole funding.
Answer: The Department assesses how effectively local highway authorities are spending highways maintenance funding through a combination of transparency requirements, incentive funding and rating mechanisms, enabling the provision of targeted support. The Depart...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriverless Vehicles: Pilot SchemesDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Driving innovation – 38,000 jobs on the horizon as pilots of self-driving vehicles fast-tracked, published on 10 June 2025, whether the autonomous vehic
Answer: The government intends to launch the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme in Spring 2026; this scheme applies to Great Britain. The scheme will allow developers and potential operators to evaluate different areas for pilot deployments and ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on the development of a UK draft Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code; when she expects a draft to be published; and what engagement her Department has had with industry and interna
Answer: The Workboat Code Edition 3, including its annex for remotely operated unmanned vessels, came into force in December 2023. This followed public consultation, during which the Maritime and Coastguard Agency engaged extensively with the industry through mee...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the current level of port and bunkering infrastructure on the uptake of e-fuels by UK-operating vessels; what steps the Government is taking to help incre
Answer: The Government provides the port sector with the right regulatory environment it needs to support investment, providing targeted support where there are clear public benefits, such as decarbonisation. In September 2025 the Government announced a further £...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOil: RussiaTreasuryTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108302More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her G7 counterparts on (a) the potential impact of the oil price cap on the level of the Russian Federation's revenues to date and (b) the potential merits of reducing the level of
Answer: The implementation of the oil price cap has achieved its joint aims of 1) reducing Russian oil revenues by capping the price at which Russian oil can be transported using G7 maritime services (such as insurance and brokering for example), while also, 2) m...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Greater ManchesterDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether trains carrying Greater Manchester Bee Network branding or livery will remain rail assets of Great British Railways or the Secretary of State, rather than assets of the Greater Manchester Combined Autho
Answer: Livery reflects who is responsible for the service, not who owns the trains. Aside from some devolved services, where there are instances of ownership by the devolved authority, rolling stock is leased from rolling stock companies and managed day-to-day b...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: FiresMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many fires involving electric vehicles have been recorded by fire and rescue services in England in the last five years; and whether the Government has received assessments o
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England, including fires involving road vehicles. This data is published in the Department’s fire statistics releases. Howe...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIron and SteelDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department's steel strategy will be published.
Answer: The Government is developing a Steel Strategy to be published in early 2026 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. The strategy will articulate what is needed to create...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2026 to Question 99801, what the estimated annual amount (a) accrued in interest and (b) repaid by British citizens with students loans was in each of the last five financial
Answer: The Department for Education and the Student Loans Company (SLC) are undertaking work to improve the quality and consistency of demographic data held across their systems, to support the timely answering of parliamentary questions. Changes in the applicat...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPregnancy: CannabisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is issued to maternity services and safeguarding partners on cannabis use during pregnancy and while caring for new born babies.
Answer: Maternity services are required to provide care in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on antenatal care and pregnancy, reference code NG201, and complex social factors, reference code CG110. These guidelines specify tha...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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