Richard Holden MP: written questions
2152 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Roads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 99925, what assumptions were used to estimate that the funding increases described will enable local authorities to fill an additional one million potholes
Answer: The estimate is based on the industry assumption that the national average cost of repairing a pothole is approximately £70. Using this figure, the £7.3 billion of funding from 2026/27 - 2029/30 would enable local authorities to fix millions of additional...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99840, whether she will publish the full cost-benefit analysis underpinning the Government’s assessment of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, including all
Answer: A full, final cost-benefit analysis was published alongside the VETS order 2023 on Gov.UK.A projection of the overall costs falling to government from the policy were not estimated as part of this assessment.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHereditary DiseasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 99967, whether he will place copies of the training modules on close relative marriage and genetic risk for midwives and health visitors, and
Answer: There are no plans to place the training modules on close relative marriage and genetic risk for midwives and health visitors, or the associated guidance on submitting data on consanguinity and pregnancy to the Maternity Services Dataset, in the library o...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS England: Carbon EmissionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2025 to Question 99799, whether NHS England has adopted a net zero target date for the National Health Service that differs from the United Kingdom’s statutory
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to him on 27 November 2025 to Question 92091 which set out the National Health Service’s Net Zero ambitions. Additionally, the answer provided to Queston 99799 on 22 December 2025 is clear that NHS England’s ...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFuels: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the press release entitled Fuel margins remain “persistently high” and this is not explained by operating costs, CMA finds, published on 22 December 2025, what steps he is t
Answer: The Government notes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) annual road fuel monitoring report. Addressing the CMA’s findings, the Government is implementing Fuel Finder, a statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices to improve price transparen...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) British Board of Agrément and (b) HAPAS-approved (i) self-adhesive surfacing membranes and (ii) other patch repair products on the long-ter
Answer: The Government welcomes innovations that can help local highway authorities maintain their roads more effectively and efficiently. The Department encourages and supports innovation in road surface repairs in various ways.For example, it has started the t...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Department has made of whether funding arrangements for NaVCIS are adequate to meet levels of operational demand across the freight and logistics sector.
Answer: We fully recognise the serious and growing threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy.The Government does not fund NaVCIS. Instead NaVCIS is funded by industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauli...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department plans to have with animal welfare charities and sector bodies ahead of the consultation on licensing rescue and rehoming organisations; and if Ministers
Answer: Defra will engage with stakeholders, including animal welfare groups, as part of the consultation process on its proposals for licensing rescue and rehoming centres. Defra welcomes the input of interested parties and will maintain communication with these...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to have discussions with devolved Administrations on their experiences of developing proposals for licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.
Answer: Defra works closely with the devolved governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary.
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations will be launched; and what her planned timetable is for its conclusion and response.
Answer: As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations in due course.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCycleways: Road Signs and MarkingsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on standardising signage for national and local cycle routes; and whether she plans to introduce a national approach to cycle route signage.
Answer: Signing for national and local cycle routes has been standardised since 1981. Current signs are prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. Active Travel England routinely checks signage quality on their route check tool, to m...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPedestrian CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce legislation to permit the use of side road zebra crossings in England; and what assessment her Department has made of the safety and cost-effectiveness of those crossings.
Answer: The Department is considering options for future legislative change to permit the use of side road zebra crossings in England, but no decisions have yet been made. An amendment to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) would be ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of rolling stock availability for Great Western Railway services in the South West; how many Class 175 units are in operation on Great Western Railway ser
Answer: The Department closely monitors rolling stock availability across the South West as well as the wider network, and is working on a rolling stock strategy to more effectively plan and utilise assets in future. There is currently one Class 175 unit in opera...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 94028, whether he plans to (a) implement the recommendations of Lord Darzi’s report on eating disorders and (b) set future targets to improve
Answer: Lord Darzi conducted an independent investigation into the National Health Service in England. He did not issue a report on eating disorders and in his independent investigation, in line with the agreed terms of reference, made no specific policy recommen...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEating DisordersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 94029, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Food Scanner app on people with eating disorders.
Answer: The Department has a series of digital tools to support adults and families to eat better and move more, including the food scanner app and the National Health Service weight loss plan app, email programmes, and websites. These tools are evidence-based an...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNutritionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has a definition of healthy eating.
Answer: The definition of healthy eating is represented visually by the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide depicts the dietary recommendations made by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which result from robust...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransport: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support modal shift to lower emissions from the transport sector.
Answer: The Government is supporting people to make more sustainable travel choices by improving public transport services and active travel infrastructure deployment. The Bus Services Act 2025 puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local lea...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Railways Bill will include a statutory target for passenger growth.
Answer: The Railways Bill was published on 5 November and will be debated at Committee stage later this month. GBR, as a passenger operator, will be incentivised to grow passenger numbers and will have a number of legal duties to support this. This includes dutie...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that funding for bus services results in improved (a) passenger outcomes, (b) service frequency, (c) reliability and (d) bus stops.
Answer: On 5 December 2025, the Government confirmed investment of over £3 billion from 2026/27 for the rest of the spending review period to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This inclu...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level and frequency of local bus services since 4 July 2024; and what the minimum service levels are in each local authority area.
Answer: The Department for Transport publishes statistics on vehicle distance travelled on local bus services, which can be used as a proxy for bus service levels. These figures are not specifically available from 4 July 2024 onwards, but are available for the ye...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBicycles: TheftDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Transport Police’s crime-screening policy for pedal-cycle theft at railway stations on (a) public confidence in policing and (b) the delivery
Answer: Ensuring the railway remains safe for passengers and staff, and creating a hostile environment for criminals on the network is a priority for both the Department for Transport and the British Transport Police (BTP). Decisions on the use of resource and de...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransport: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy on national and local transport planning; and how the Strategy will improve whole-jou
Answer: The Department will publish the integrated national transport strategy shortly, which will set the long‑term vision for domestic transport across England.While developing the strategy, we have worked across government to ensure it aligns with forthcoming ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken for the publication of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 3 on local authorities’ ability to plan and deliver active travel scheme
Answer: Decisions on future active travel objectives will be confirmed in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy when it is published in the spring. The Strategy, coupled with over £900m of investment, will provide long term certainty for local authori...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransPennine Express: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been allocated to onboard WiFi and catering on TransPennine Express services in the last 12 months.
Answer: In the 2025-26 operating year, TransPennine Express has enhanced its catering, recruiting additional staff and supporting local small suppliers. These changes have led to improved customer satisfaction and additional ticket and catering revenue. Net cater...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransPennine Express: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what a) number and b) proportion station staffing levels have changed on TransPennine Express services since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The increases over 2024/25 were mainly to fill vacancies that had been paused pending the previous Government’s proposals for the closure of ticket offices, which they reversed after significant public criticism. In mid-2024, TransPennine Express graduall...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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