Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, to publish all assessments his Department has made of the implications for UK energy security of importing approximately 40% of the UK’s energy in the last five years.
Answer: The Department and Ofgem jointly publish annual statutory security of supply reports, which provide a comprehensive assessment of the availability of secure and affordable electricity, gas and oil to meet the UK’s energy needs. These reports consider the ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: TaxationTreasuryTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94791More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Energy Profits Levy on investment in North Sea oil and gas projects; and whether her Department has estimated the capital investment generated by reforming
Answer: The Government has carefully considered the potential impacts of the Energy Profits Levy (EPL), including on investment. The Treasury publishes impacts in summary form for tax measures in tax information and impact notes (TIINs) alongside the Finance Bill...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarrying: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025 to question 92688, what progress he has made on reducing regulation by 25% by 2029.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working within the framework set out in the ‘New Approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ (also known as the Regulators Action Plan – RAP) to identify potential administrative burden reductions....
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPorts: EnergyDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on prioritising access to the national grid for port electrification, including in relation to onshore power supply f
Answer: Reforming the connections process and investing in the grid is a key Government priority. This includes reforms that are expected to deprioritise over half of the existing queue based on readiness and strategic alignment with our strategy as set out in Cl...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPorts: EnergyDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support ports wishing to offer onshore power supply connections to cruise line customers.
Answer: On 25 March, the Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports. This call for evidence focused on potential options to reduce emissions from vessels at berth and how ports are managing their future en...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordShipping: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help prepare the maritime sector for the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
Answer: We are working closely with the sector as part of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority to ensure that maritime operators will be sufficiently prepared to join UK ETS from July next year.Regulators are running a voluntary onboarding period from ...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Environment ProtectionDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92100 on Great British Railways: Environment Protection, if she will take legislative steps to require Great British Railways to publish an annual environm
Answer: There are no plans to legislate for a specific annual report on environmental performance. Reporting requirements for GBR will be set as part of GBR design, ensuring transparency in GBR’s delivery. We expect that GBR will include detail in its Integrated ...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of whether it is possible to carbon offset all flights; and what are the commercial or other mechanisms for doing so.
Answer: The Government is supportive of the role of carbon markets in driving cost-effective decarbonisation of the aviation sector, including through the global carbon offsetting scheme, CORSIA, and aviation’s inclusion in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Facilities AgreementsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to WPQ 89594, what the difference will be between the Operator of First Choice and the previous Operator of Last Resort in the Framework Document.
Answer: The Framework Document is being reviewed and updated following the change of role from the DfT Operator of Last Resort to the Operator of First Choice and the transfer of circa 200 DfT staff to DFTO on 31 March 2026 which moves more operational functions ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Private SectorDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how her Department will measure the impact of the Railways Bill on private sector innovation in the rail industry; and what baseline data has been established to assess the impact of that Bill on levels of inno
Answer: Establishing GBR through the Railways Bill will provide an integrated approach and greater longer-term certainty for rail, giving the private sector the confidence it needs to invest and support innovation throughout the sector. The Railways Bill Impact A...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Private SectorDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what analysis she has undertaken of the impact of the Railways Bill on private sector investment and innovation within the rail industry; and if she will publish that analysis.
Answer: Establishing GBR through the Railways Bill will provide an integrated approach and greater longer-term certainty for rail, giving the private sector the confidence it needs to invest and support innovation throughout the sector. The Railways Bill Impact A...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90824 on Great British Railways: Disclosure of Information, whether the data published by the Office of Rail and Road will include annual figures on passen
Answer: The Office of Rail and Road currently publishes the number of complaints closed by train operators on a bi-annual basis. There is no distinction between the number of complaints received and the number resolved. Train operators are obliged to provide cert...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90403 on the Electric Car Grant, if she will publish the internal impact assessment produced for the Electric Car Grant criteria.
Answer: The Government does not plan to publish the internal impact assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90806 on Railways: Contracts, in what circumstances track access rights would be extended; and what role (a) she and (b) Great British Railways will have i
Answer: Further to the answer from 21 November to Question 90806, the government is maintaining its commitment to honour existing rights in Schedule 5 of track access contracts until they expire. As existing contracts expire, operators will move on to new GBR mod...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsTreasuryTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94302More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90404 on the Electric Car Grant, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the Electric Car Grant.
Answer: The Electric Car Grant makes electric vehicles more affordable by cutting the upfront costs of electric vehicles. In doing so, it accelerates the transition to zero-emission driving and has already helped over 35,000 drivers make the switch.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: ApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90803 on Transport: Apprentices and Training, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the aviation sector on the removal of
Answer: The government's decision on defunding Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and over, including a summary of the evidence that informed that decision, is published here: Written Statements - Hansard - UK Parliament. Ahead of this decision, Skills Eng...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: ApprenticesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90803 on Transport: Apprentices and Training, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the impact of the remova
Answer: The Department for Transport has been in regular contact with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding Level 7 apprenticeships, including most recently as part of preparations for a Transport Select Committee session discussing skills for transport ...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88878 on Train Operating Companies: Contracts, what is a GBR model access contract what its key terms and conditions are, and how it differs from existing
Answer: As part of GBR’s new role in determining access to its network, GBR will develop and issue Model Contracts. This will set the rights and obligations between an operator and GBR for the use of GBR's network. The provisions of the model contracts must be co...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRestoring Your Railway FundDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 90394 on the Restoring Your Railways Fund, if she will publish the equality impact assessment completed by her Department of the decision to close the Rest
Answer: The Department had due regard for the Public Sector Equalities Duty, and completed an Equalities Impact Assessment related to the closure of the Restoring Your Railway programme. The Department does not habitually publish such advice and legal compliance ...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92692 on South Western Railway: Rolling Stock, if she will publish in full the modelling and departmental assessments associated with the new rolling stock
Answer: The Department's internal modelling draws upon a number of sources and data from third parties which is not publicly available and is commercially sensitive, and therefore unable to be released.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Railway: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92692 on South Western Railway: Rolling Stock, if she will provide the link to the renewed rolling stock leasing contract as published on the Government’s
Answer: The Contract Award notices for the leases entered into can be found here:Direct award of a Lease for Class 701 rolling stock - Find a TenderDirect award of a Lease for Class 444/450 rolling stock - Find a TenderDirect award of a Lease for Class 158/159 ro...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ReformDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92685 on Railways: Reform, whether she will request that the Office for Budget Responsibility or the National Audit Office examine and validate the Departm
Answer: We have no current plans for the Office for Budget Responsibility or the National Audit Office to examine or validate these estimates. The Office for Budget Responsibility provides economic and fiscal forecasts and scrutinises government performance again...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92677 on London North Eastern Railway: Fares, how many tickets introduced or sold under the LNER demand-based pricing trial for travel between 1 August and
Answer: The London North Eastern Railway (LNER) trial is making more flexible options available to passengers and making it easier for passengers who are able to travel at less busy times to benefit from cheaper tickets on less crowded trains. Through this trial,...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Driving InstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34154, if she will launch that review.
Answer: The government is considering plans to review the existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing, and licensing in a manner that takes account of both long-standing plans in the Department for Transport and the Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency,...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 21 July 2025 to Question HL9428, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of unfunded freight schemes on her Department's (a) rail freight growth and (b) modal shif
Answer: The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is committed to delivering growth and supporting modal shift to lower-carbon modes of freight transport. We have committed to the rail freight growt...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →