Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her forthcoming Freight and Logistics Plan will identify (a) a National Freight Network, (b) key transport routes and (c) main transport bottlenecks for freight movements across transport modes; and wha
Answer: The forthcoming new plan for freight is informed by the broad range of information the Department holds on the freight and logistics system. This includes information that helps us understand key transport routes, like our published road traffic and marit...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDartford-Thurrock Crossing: PrivatisationDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the privatisation of the Dartford Crossing.
Answer: Autumn Budget 2025 announced that the Government's preferred financing option for the Lower Thames Crossing scheme at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under this model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPedestrian CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101859, when her Department's work with Active Travel England on research into side road zebra crossings began; and when she expects that work to conclude.
Answer: Active Travel England’s Inclusive Crossings Research is currently underway. In 2024, Active Travel England commissioned Transport for West Midlands to undertake research at the University of Warwick to evaluate the usability, safety, and design of side ro...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordc2c: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101830 on c2c Railway: Rolling Stock, how many Class 357 units operated by c2c have received all planned upgrades and modifications in full.
Answer: All Door Overhaul and Tight Lock Auto Coupler Overhaul works planned for 2025/26 have been completed on 74 units. Planned train painting and corrosion repairs and LED lighting upgrades are currently being undertaken.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Barnsley and SheffieldDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101836 on Railways: Barnsley and Sheffield, what the revised launch date is for the GPS-based pay as you go trial between Sheffield and Barnsley.
Answer: We are continuing to work closely with Northern and the supplier to address the problems that have caused Digital Pay As You Go Trial 4 to be delayed, and will launch the trial as soon as possible. Northern will provide an update to participants in the re...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Railways InitiativeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the community rail programme; what changes have been made since 1 July 2024 to (a) the community rail recognition process, (b) guidance issued to train operating companies on community rai
Answer: The Department continues to support the accreditation process for Community Rail Partnerships (CRP). The Community Rail Network (CRN) reviews processes, accounts, and governance and recommends to the Department when a CRP has met a certain standard of ope...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Railways InitiativeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department has provided to support community rail, including (a) community rail partnerships and (b) station adopter schemes, in each financial year since 2019-20; and what funding is planned f
Answer: Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) are awarded funding from both the Community Rail Network (CRN) and train operating companies. CRPs then allocate funding to station adopter groups within their catchment. Funding has remained at a consistent level since 2...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: EssexHome OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) full time equivalent police officers and (b) headcount police officers there were in Essex Police as at 31 March in each financial year since 2019-20; and how many police officers (i) joi
Answer: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of police officers in post, and police officers joining and leaving the police service, on both a headcount and full-time equivalent basis, in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical ...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Electric BicyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what responses have been received from delivery platforms following the Department’s letter on compliance with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983; and whether delivery platforms are expected
Answer: The letters to the delivery platforms from the Department have been placed in the Library of the House. Responses were received from all three delivery platforms that were written to, and these provided a clear understanding of the requirements of the Ele...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHammersmith Bridge TaskforceDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the next meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge taskforce is expected to take place.
Answer: The Government intends to convene a further meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in the near future to discuss next steps for the project. My Department’s officials will be in touch with key local stakeholders to arrange this in due course.
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which schemes are included in the Department’s longer-term rail infrastructure pipeline; what the status is of the Ely–Haughley junction improvements within that pipeline; and what criteria are used to determin
Answer: The Secretary of State updated Parliament on 8th July 2025 regarding those rail and road infrastructure projects which will progress following completion of SR25The previous government had announced a number of schemes that were unfunded, including Ely Ar...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to announce which schemes will be taken forward under the Access for All programme.
Answer: This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upg...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric ScootersDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for bringing forward legislation on micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters.
Answer: The Government has made a commitment to pursue legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when Parliamentary time allows.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her oral contribution of 8 January 2026, Official Report, column 420, on what evidential basis she said that the majority of single tickets under the extension of contactless ticketing will be
Answer: As part of our fares simplification to expand Pay As You Go (PAYG) with Contactless ticketing, we introduced single leg pricing. The Department worked with the rail industry to ensure that as much as possible, single fares will cost roughly half the price...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFares: RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the long-distance simplified fares trials on passengers.
Answer: The Department has commissioned independent evaluation on the trial, this research has not yet concluded. The current evidence is provided by London North Eastern Railway and is available at: https://assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/6k2Evw4OmGsvywKgBg9U9...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Advance tickets previously available on LNER routes remain available following the introduction of long-distance simplified fares.
Answer: LNER does not publish data on the proportion of Advance/Fixed tickets sold before and after the commencement of the trial.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: BuildingsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department has spent on (a) purchasing and (b) installing soundproof meeting pods for its headquarters in London since 17 October 2024; and how much of this relates to meeting pods for the Minister
Answer: No further funds have been spent on purchasing or installing soundproof meeting pods beyond that detailed in the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71266.
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of up-front pilot training costs on (a) the pilot workforce, (b) diversity within the profession and (c) the long-term resilience of the aviation sector; and
Answer: This Government works closely with industry to address financial barriers to pilot training and to support the growth of a diverse aviation workforce, including through the Aviation Industry Skills Board. This area is a priority not only for my Department...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: VATTreasuryTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105280More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT on the cost of pilot training in the UK; and whether she has considered extending VAT exemption to all commercial pilot training regardless of provider sta
Answer: Pilot training may be exempt from VAT when provided by an eligible body which meets certain conditions (for example, when provided by a government institution or certain regulated organisations), but otherwise will be subject to the standard rate. VAT-reg...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has assessed the potential merits of extending eligibility for government-backed student finance to standalone commercial pilot training courses; and what discussions her Department has had with the
Answer: The courses designated for higher education student finance are set out in secondary legislation. To attract funding, students studying in England must generally be undertaking a course leading to a designated qualification at a provider registered with t...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power: TimberDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will approve arrangements under which electricity generated by Drax from imported wood pellets is used to supply data centres; and what assessment he has made of the carbon and env
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s AI infrastructure is developed in a way that is both sustainable and aligned with our net zero ambitions. The Low-Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference, covering Drax's generation from 2027-31, r...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what evidential basis her Department has concluded that the majority of passengers benefit from the long-distance simplified ticketing trials.
Answer: The Department has commissioned independent evaluation on the trial, this research has not yet concluded. The current evidence is provided by LNER and is available at https://assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/6k2Evw4OmGsvywKgBg9U9j/e63a4ca09d2c4e01fada29f...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105150More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of people who were employed in the automotive manufacturing sector in each month since June 2025 up to and including the most recent month for which figures ar
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 12th January is attached.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPortsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the powers conferred by the Harbours Act 1964, as amended by the Transport and Works Act 1992, allow Ministers to amend the text of primary legislation by Harbour Revision Order.
Answer: Harbour Revision Orders (HROs) are normally initiated by a harbour authority, but the Secretary of State can seek to impose a HRO under the Harbours Act 1964. The department is consulted on all HRO applications, but the Secretary of State does not have th...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransport for London: Govia Thameslink RailwayDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department expects to reach a decision on Transport for London’s proposal for Great Northern inner services before any change to the current operating model takes effect.
Answer: The Department is working with TfL to assess the benefits of the proposal, including housing growth opportunities such as the potential development of 21,000 homes at Crews Hill.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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