Richard Holden MP: written questions 2026
1407 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fares: 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 recordLondon North Eastern Railway: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of changes in LNER ticket prices since the introduction of simpler fares for long-distance travel.
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 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: AirportsHome OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer to Question 97331 on Airports: Immigration Controls, for what reason Border Force set queue time service standards at passport control.
Answer: The service standards for wait times at passport control, which Border Force publish against, stem from a Ministerial decision to monitor performance more accurately at the border. A huge amount of work is involved to keep passenger wait times to a minimu...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFreightDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the information her Department holds on (a) key transport routes (b) main transport bottlenecks for freight movements across transport modes and (c) freight data;
Answer: The Department holds a broad range of information on the freight and logistics system that provides an effective evidence-base for our work. This includes information that helps understand key transport routes, like our published road traffic and maritime...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFreightDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made in identifying a National Freight Network.
Answer: The 2022 Future of Freight plan committed to developing a fuller understanding of our domestic freight network from a multimodal perspective, before considering how it could be consolidated into a National Freight Network. The Department is making good pr...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many bus passenger journeys were taken in (a) London and (b) England outside London in each month from January 2023 for which data is available.
Answer: The Department does not hold information on bus passenger journeys operated by calendar month in London or England outside London.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which driving test centres were at 24 weeks wait times in December 2025.
Answer: The attached Excel document shows which driving test centres had a waiting time of 24 weeks in December 2025 for a practical car driving test.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) Notices to Improve and (b) written instructions her Department issued to train operating companies for which the Department is the operator in relation to (i) service performance and (ii) financial
Answer: The Department has not issued any Notices to Improve on any of the DfT Operator train operating companies in December 2025 because none have been in breach of their formal contractual terms. The DfT regularly engages with all operators on service performa...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a practical car driving test was in December 2025.
Answer: The national average waiting time for a practical car driving test in December 2025 was 21.9 weeks.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent driving examiners employed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were (a) in post and (b) delivering practical car driving tests in December 2025.
Answer: As of 30 December 2025, there were 1,618 full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) in post. Of those, 1,542 FTE were available to deliver practical car driving tests.A DE is a paid Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency employee from the point at whi...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren in Care: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate provision of safeguarding for the ePEP online system.
Answer: The department’s statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads sets out what electronic Personal Education Plans (ePEPs) must cover and the outcomes they are intended to support. While we do not mandate or endorse specific ePEP platforms, local authorities,...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: BiodiversityDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 96696 on Roads: Biodiversity, what estimate she has made of the average cost for each Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project of (a) voluntarily deli
Answer: The department does not estimate the average cost of voluntary biodiversity net gain for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects on the Strategic Road Network. Biodiversity net gain provisions are determined on a project by project basis and assess...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCongenital AbnormalitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025 to WPQ 96699, if he will provide a hyperlink to that information.
Answer: Guidance on how to submit data about consanguinity and pregnancy to the Maternity Services Dataset is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-sets/maternity-services-data-set/guidance...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 97184, what estimate the Department has made of the annual cost of extending the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to provide concessionary pass
Answer: The Department for Transport does not hold a current assessment of the cost of expanding the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) to include companion passes as part of the statutory provision. In the year ending March 2025, the ENCTS cost...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOffice of Rail and Road: ResignationsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102884More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she was first informed of the decision by John Larkinson, Chief Executive of the Office of Rail and Road, to step down from his role.
Answer: The Secretary of State received a letter from the Chair of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on 8 December 2025 informing her of John Larkinson’s decision to retire from the role of Chief Executive of the ORR with effect from the end of April 2026.
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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