Richard Holden MP: written questions 2026
1407 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ports: PlanningDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how she plans to determine whether appropriate bodies are assigned responsibility for the adoption and long-term maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems under development consent orders for port development
Answer: The proposal for a revised National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) contains extensive guidance on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The final version will be published in coming weeks.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordInsolvency Service: Climate ChangeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to the Insolvency Service was of Net Zero, sustainability or climate-related policies in 2024–25, including changes to operational practice, reporting and staff roles.
Answer: During 2024–25, the costs associated with supporting the Government’s Net Zero, sustainability and climate related policies were £196,065.88. These were primarily related to staff time delivering mandatory disclosures and requirements including Greening G...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what costs have been incurred by her Department in complying with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures requirements.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on Net Zero, sustainability and climate reporting functions within her Department; and what the staffing cost of those roles
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Carbon EmissionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the additional cost to procurement contracts from the requirement for suppliers to provide Carbon Reduction Plans.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department has spent on external consultants and advisers in relation to Net Zero, sustainability and climate reporting since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Carbon EmissionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much expenditure has been incurred on decarbonising her Department's UK estate since 4 July 2024, including heating systems, renewable energy installations and building u
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department has spent on electric vehicle charging infrastructure at overseas posts since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: Greenhouse Gas EmissionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much has been spent on developing the global Net Zero estate pathway, including consultancy, internal staffing and programme management costs.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what internal data Network Rail collects on level crossings, including a) barrier activation and down-time duration, b) complaints or reports from road users relating to barrier down-time, and c) overruns cause
Answer: Network Rail collects a range of data regarding level crossings on its network, which helps inform the management of risk at each location. If there are complaints or feedback from members of the public in relation to level crossings, Network Rail has pro...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: PlanningDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how decision-makers should interpret the requirement for applicants to assess the implications of port developments for Shoreline Management Plans, marine plans and coastal defence capital programmes; and wheth
Answer: A final text of the National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) will be published in due course.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPorts: National Policy StatementsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance will be issued to decision-makers on the application of paragraphs 4.7.34–4.7.35 of the draft National Policy Statement for Ports, including how “acceptable levels” of residual transport impact wi
Answer: We are currently considering the views received from consultation on, and Parliamentary scrutiny of, the draft revised NPS for Ports, and will lay a final text in due course.
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAirports: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the kerbside airport drop-off charges were at each of the major UK airports in (a) July 2024 and (b) today; and whether her Department has issued guidance on airport drop-off charges.
Answer: The provision and charging of car parking at airports, including drop-off charges, is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Government expects fees to be set in a way that is both fair and transparent for consum...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Government AssistanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 99932, whether the estimates referred to in that Answer are held in a form that allows net Government support per passenger journey to be calculated, and wh
Answer: The Department does not intend to publish estimates and underlying calculations. The Department does not routinely publish forecasts of passenger revenue due to the level of uncertainty inherent in those forecasts. The ORR publish data that enables this...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCaesarean Sections: HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of caesarean sections on long-term health, including links to bowel and gastrointestinal conditions.
Answer: Bowel or gastrointestinal long-term conditions are not recognised consequences of caesarean section unless there have been additional complications at the time of surgery such as bowel injury. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are resp...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCare Workers and Nurses: English LanguageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what English language proficiency requirements apply to (a) registered nurses and (b) care staff working in regulated settings; and how compliance is monitored and enforced.
Answer: To practise as a nurse in the United Kingdom, individuals must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which sets the standards for both domestic and internationally qualified nurses. All applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient comp...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordA12: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2026 to Question 98750, when the A12 widening scheme was deferred by the previous Government; on what date that decision was taken; what effect that decision had on the statu
Answer: A decision was taken in March 2024 to defer the start of construction on the A12 widening scheme. This had no impact on the statutory Development Consent Order as consent had been granted in January 2024.
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: ShippingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100965, if he will provide a link to that impact assessment.
Answer: The impact assessment for the response to the consultation on expansion to domestic maritime emissions can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692591b59fd433badebc3140/uk-ets-domestic-maritime-authority-response-ia.pdf We will pub...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPost Office: Carbon Emissions: Sustainable DevelopmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to Post Office Limited was in 2024–25 of Net Zero, sustainability and decarbonisation initiatives; and how much of that cost was met through direct government support.
Answer: Post Office Limited laid its FY 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts in Parliament in December 2025. The Annual Report details the company’s policy on net zero, and is available here: post-office-limited_2025-ara-signed.pdfThe Department does not directly f...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: Carbon Emissions and Sustainable DevelopmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department's spend was on sustainability and Net Zero-related estate activity managed via the Government Property Agency in 2024–25 , including a) energy efficiency measures, b) climate adapta
Answer: The department has not incurred any expenditure on energy efficiency measures, climate adaptation work and reporting and monitoring systems associated with estate activity managed via the Government Property Agency in 2024–25.
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101851, if she will publish any information held by her Department in whatever format it is held.
Answer: As set out in our answer to question 101851, the Department does not hold the data requested in a readily available form.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of extending the statutory concessionary bus travel scheme UK-wide to include all residents aged 19 and under.
Answer: The Government knows how important affordable bus services are in enabling young people to access education, work and vital services. Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free of...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric VehiclesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether additional costs have been incurred from transitioning the non-armoured overseas vehicle fleet to (a) electric and (b) low-emission vehicles.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage: InvestmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the return on investment for overseas solar photovoltaic and battery storage projects funded since 2021.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: Renewable EnergyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the capital cost was of overseas renewable energy projects undertaken by her Department since 4 July 2024 by country and project type.
Answer: The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including those related to climate change, at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Where available, details of additional expendi...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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