Richard Holden MP: written questions 2026
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Written questions
Heathrow Airport: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of requiring (a) regulatory and (b) policy frameworks to be in place before the Heathrow third runway project can proceed to its next phase.
Answer: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the independent economic regulator, is currently considering options for the future regulatory framework for Heathrow, including how costs are controlled and risks are allocated, with a decision on a preferred regula...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: BiodiversityDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 104858 on Roads: Biodiversity, what information her Department holds on the (a) estimated cost, (b) estimated cost range and (c) modelling of the biodiversi
Answer: DEFRA’s forthcoming biodiversity net gain impact assessment, which is expected to be published shortly, will set out the impact of applying biodiversity net gain to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2026 to Question 101484 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, what estimate she has made of the average amount of public funding provided per chargepoint.
Answer: Information on the average amount of public funding per public chargepoint is not available. Most public chargepoints have not received any public subsidy.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: Climate ChangeDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110884More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government’s view, as set out in paragraph 4.5.10 of the draft National Policy Statement for Ports dated 4 June 2025, that there is no national resilience case for requiring climate resilience stand
Answer: Section 104(3) Planning Act 2008 requires the Secretary of State to decide an application in accordance with any relevant national policy statement, except to the extent that one or more of subsections (4) to (8) applies.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's report entitled Rail customer experience survey pilot report, published on 25 April 2024, what plans she has to use the survey findings to inform performance standards for pub
Answer: The Department uses customer insight data, including emerging findings from the newly introduced Rail Customer Experience Survey, to inform performance management of all train operating companies, including those which are publicly-owned. The Services Agr...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Offences: Motor InsuranceDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to pages 30 and 31 of the Government's report entitled Motor Insurance Taskforce: final report, published on 10 December 2025, whether the Department has concluded its consideration of penalties
Answer: The Government does not intend to commission a specific review into the motorcycle insurance market, as motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer. It is for them to decide the level of risk that th...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor InsuranceDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110881More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has measurable targets for helping to reduce average motor insurance premiums.
Answer: The Government does not intend to commission a specific review into the motorcycle insurance market, as motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer. It is for them to decide the level of risk that th...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPortsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 Janaury 2026 to Question 104987, what forms of legislative modification a Harbour Revision Order is capable of making.
Answer: Harbour Revision Orders can amend, repeal, or consolidate existing harbour legislation.These take the form of works orders or non-works orders. Works orders authorise a project, starting works or other installations or schemes. Non-works orders typically ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Dental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England is taking to encourage integrated care boards to commission prioritised oral health pathways for patients undergoing cancer treatment; and whether practices that participate
Answer: The Government is working to ensure that patients who have a diagnosis of cancer receive timely, safe, and effective dental care.NHS England has produced guidelines which aim to ensure that patients across England with a diagnosis of cancer, including ora...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Dental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has identified general dental practices participating in locally commissioned schemes to provide prioritised oral healthcare for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Answer: The Government is working to ensure that patients who have a diagnosis of cancer receive timely, safe, and effective dental care.NHS England has produced guidelines which aim to ensure that patients across England with a diagnosis of cancer, including ora...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 19 of the Final stage impact assessment entitled UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Scope Expansion - Domestic maritime, published on 25 November 2025, for what reason n
Answer: The Impact Assessment did not include quantified regional or equalities analysis because the available evidence did not support robust estimations of impacts at that level of granularity. The Assessment finds that compliance costs are modest relative to o...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBusesDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new buses were registered in the UK broken down by country of manufacture in each of the last 10 years.
Answer: Information regarding Buses & Coaches (including minibuses) registered for the first time in the UK by country of manufacture, as recorded by DVLA, from 2015 to 2024 can be found in the attached Excel document. Data, supplied by DVLA, regarding new re...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLower Thames Crossing: Cost Benefit AnalysisDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has included the foregone Dartford Crossing toll revenues in the Lower Thames Crossing project’s cost–benefit analysis.
Answer: In line with departmental guidance, cost-benefit analysis for the Lower Thames Crossing is ongoing and incorporates potential impacts at the Dartford Crossing. These include the loss of toll revenue and the transfer of operations, maintenance and renewal ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: FerriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, a) what estimate his Department has made of the average additional cost per passenger ticket on domestic ferry services arising from the inclusion of domestic maritime within the UK Emissions
Answer: The Government has not produced estimates of the additional cost per passenger ticket arising from the inclusion of domestic maritime within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. The Impact Assessment considers costs at sector-level rather than by route or far...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: FacilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which driving test centres the DVSA have proposed for closure.
Answer: DVSA has no current plans to close any driving test centres.
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation and Shipping: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what schemes and programmes her Department has in place to help support zero-emission in (a) shipping and (b) aviation.
Answer: The Government recognises the potential decarbonisation and growth benefits that new forms of zero-emission maritime vessels and aircraft could provide. The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, published in March 2025, sets out our policies and commitments ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFreightDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 104866, what is the expected month and year of publication of the new Plan for Freight.
Answer: The Government intends to publish the plan in spring this year.
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Royal FamilyDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Royal Train will be treated as a Great British Railways service for the purposes of network access, charging and operational control once Great British Railways is established.
Answer: The 2024-2025 Sovereign Grant and Sovereign Grant Reserve Annual Reports and Accounts, published by the Royal Household, confirmed that the Royal Train will be decommissioned ahead of the current contract expiring in 2027, following a thorough review into...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to rail fares in England, what the average percentage change was between July 2024 and the current fares period for a) Advance fares b) First Class fares c) Super Off-Peak fares, and what methodo
Answer: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes annual statistics measuring the change in prices charged by train operating companies to rail passengers in Great Britain. The annual statistical release is presented by sector, ticket type, class and regulated ...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Rail Delivery Groups' updated fare search limits on (a) passenger choice, (b) the cost of rail fares and (c) levels of passenger demand.
Answer: The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) plays an important role in managing functions and services upon which train operators, retailers and passengers rely. The configuration of these systems is a matter for the RDG.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Civil ServantsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, since 1 January 2024, how many additional civil servants have been recruited into DfTO on a headcount basis; and for each quarter in the period January 2024 to the most recent quarter for which figures are avai
Answer: DFT Operator Limited (DFTO) is a public corporation. It is not a Crown employer and it does not employ civil servants.
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the costs to port developers of the requirement in paragraph 4.7.23 of the draft National Policy Statement for Ports to provide infrastructure to support alternative fuels and zero
Answer: The costs of providing appropriate infrastructure will be determined on a case-by-case basis as applications progress. The final text of the National Policy Statement for Ports will be published in due course.
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential costs to port developers of setting target modal shares for rail or coastal shipping, as referenced in the draft National Policy Statement for Ports; and what furth
Answer: The costs of requirements and obligations for rail and/or coastal shipping can only be determined in the specific circumstances of individual applications for development consent. The draft National Policy Statement for Ports makes clear that such require...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of higher electric vehicle repair costs on insurance premiums, and by when it expects its proposed battery health measures to reduce those costs f
Answer: The Government works closely with the insurance sector to ensure the transition to zero emission vehicles is sustainable and affordable. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for individual insurers and the Government does not seek to control t...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical car driving tests were conducted in (a) July 2024 and (b) each subsequent month up to the most recent month for which data is available.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on the number of practical driving tests conducted on GOV.UK. The number of practical driving tests conducted by month, including from July 2024, is available on report DRT121G This data is upd...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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