Richard Holden MP: written questions 2026
1407 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Eating 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 recordSouth Western Railway: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the funding for the infrastructure upgrade programme on South Western Railway has been spent to date.
Answer: The most recent infrastructure upgrade programme for South Western Railway was completed in 2020. The Government keeps future investment requirements under review.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: TimetablesDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether South Western Railway plans to consult on a new timetable in 2026.
Answer: South Western Railway (SWR) is planning to consult on its future timetable proposals with stakeholders and passengers during 2026.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles on the West of England line have been modernised by South Western Railway since December 2025.
Answer: The 15X Fleet refurbishment programme started in December 2025 with refurbishment works on the first unit commencing on 29 December.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSoutheastern: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the expected completion date is for Southeastern’s rolling stock procurement process.
Answer: The Southeastern rolling stock procurement is currently live and is subject to evaluation and all necessary governance for approvals. We are unable to confirm exact timescales due to the confidential nature of the live procurement, but subject to business...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSoutheastern: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Southeastern stations had pay as you go ticketing on 1 January in each year since 2010.
Answer: From 1 January 2010, Pay As You Go (PAYG) was available at 65 Southeastern stations, increasing to 68 from 1 January 2015. On 2 February 2025, Project Oval expanded PAYG ticketing to National Rail Stations in the Southeast of England, bringing the total o...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether contracts for new rolling stock for Northern are expected to be signed in 2027.
Answer: It is anticipated that Northern’s new rolling stock contract could be signed in 2027, subject to the completion of Northern’s current live procurement.
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Northern trains have had sanding systems upgraded in each month since January 2024.
Answer: The number of Northern trains that have had sanding systems upgraded in each month since January 2024 is set out in the table below. Jan-247Feb-2421Mar-2465Apr-24116May-2420Jun-245Jul-247Aug-2474Sep-2468Oct-2421Nov-241Dec-241Jan-250Feb-251Mar-253Apr-250Ma...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many instances of failed Assisted Travel were recorded on Northern services in the last 12 months.
Answer: No train operators currently record individual instances of failed passenger assists. However, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) carries out surveys, and its 2024-25 survey showed that 20 per cent of all respondents reported their requests for passenger a...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cancellation rate on Northern services has been in each month since June 2024.
Answer: Information on train cancellations and punctuality is published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). It is published quarterly and by rail periods. Cancellations Data Periodic data on trains cancelled by operator can be found in ORR Table 3124 - Trains p...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Barnsley and SheffieldDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the GPS based pay as you go trial between Sheffield and Barnsley has commenced.
Answer: Three Digital Pay As You Go (DPAYG) trials have successfully launched across the North and Midlands. The final trial, originally due to go live in November 2025, has been delayed. During rigorous pre-launch testing, issues were identified that would have ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: Travel InformationDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether AI powered disruption updates are in use on LNER services.
Answer: This project is currently in development. LNER is working to introduce instant updates during disruption, powered by AI, to keep passengers informed and in control when travelling. This will enable faster, smarter decision-making, reduce delays, and help...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the modernised training programme for LNER frontline staff has been completed.
Answer: This project is currently underway. London North Eastern Railway is modernising frontline training to ensure every passenger receives a consistently helpful and informed service. The programme will be completed by March 2026 and will include continuous re...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: Railway StationsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passenger information screens have been replaced at LNER managed stations in the last 12 months.
Answer: Fifty screens have been replaced in the last 12 months at York and Newcastle stations. This forms part of LNER’s wider programme to enhance passenger information across all managed stations.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreater Anglia: TrainsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Greater Anglia trains have been fitted with advanced monitoring equipment.
Answer: Greater Anglia has fitted two units with infrastructure monitoring equipment. Some technology is cloud-based and is therefore not fitted ‘per train’. For example, existing CCTV footage can be analysed by AI to identify overgrown vegetation. There are plan...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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