Richard Holden MP: written questions 2025
1652 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Stray DogsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to collect data on the number of stray dogs taken in by local authorities in the last year that were (a) reclaimed by their owner, (b) rehomed, and (c) e
Answer: The Department does not collect this data. The obligations for dealing with stray dogs are laid down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The responsibility for implementing these obligations lies with each local authority.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans her Department has for mitigating the impact on the planned 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans if the delivery of 300,000 operational public electric vehicle charge poi
Answer: The National Audit Office’s report last year outlined that the number of public chargepoints being installed is on track to meet 300,000 chargepoints by 2030. The majority of these will be delivered by industry, which has already committed £6 billion of p...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the consultation outcome entitled Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 – outcome, updated on 7 May 2025, when she plans to respond to the coordinated implementa
Answer: The Department intends to make an announcement shortly.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNutrition: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage healthy eating habits in young people, separate from Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations.
Answer: The Government’s advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide applies to most people from the age of two years old, and is available at the following link:https://www....
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to WPQ 89628 answered on 20 November 2025, whether his Department plans to set targets regarding the improvement of community care for young people with eating disorders.
Answer: Eating disorders have a devastating impact on young people’s lives and Lord Darzi’s investigation found that people accessing National Health Service mental health services are waiting too long, receive variable quality of care, and suffer from entrenched...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the measures included in her Department's joint press release entitled Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: military driving examiners mobilised to cut test
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has agreed with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that 36 defence driving examiners (DDE) will carry out driving tests for one day a week for 12 months. MOD has charged DVSA estimated marginal costs in line with ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what has been the average percentage annual change in rail fares in (a) absolute terms and (b) real terms in each of the last 30 years.
Answer: The Office of Rail and Road publish annual statistics measuring the change in prices charged by train operating companies to rail passengers, normally introduced in March of each year. Between 1995 and 2025 rail fares have risen a) in absolute terms by 19...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarlos CorreaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Venezuelan Government concerning the journalist Carlos Correa.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65220.
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMohamed TadjaditForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Algerian Government concerning Mohamed Tadjadit.
Answer: The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Algeria, and consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards. Our Embassy in Algiers remains in regular contact ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSheffield Hallam University: Academic FreedomDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings her Department have had with Sheffield Hallam University following recent reports of alleged academic intimidation at the university.
Answer: The department met with the university in October 2024 to understand more about the issues and offer support. Alleged foreign interference can present sensitive issues for institutions to navigate and there remain active enquiries into this matter, so it ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Tutors: VettingDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will legislate to require all private tutors working with children to hold enhanced DBS clearance and be subject to formal safeguarding regulation.
Answer: The government is committed to safeguarding children across all education settings, including out-of-school settings, such as private tuition. All out-of-school settings, including tutors, have a legal duty of care to keep children safe and protect them f...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the current operational status of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, including which (a) frigates and (b) destroyers are (i) ready for deployment, (ii) at sea, (iii) in refit, (iv) in extended mai
Answer: For operational security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule and readiness profiles. The Ministry of Defence continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver our hig...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAmphibious WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes to the UK’s amphibious capability, including a) the decommissioning or reduced availability of amphibious platforms, b) the effect
Answer: The Royal Marines and UK Commando Forces (UKCF) are being transformed through the Littoral Strike/Commando Force programme which is tailored to UK and NATO requirements. The decommissioning of amphibious platforms reflects a planned transition towards a n...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the current status of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) fleet, including which vessels are (a) in service, (b) operational, (c) laid up and (d) awaiting repair; and if he will set out the expected i
Answer: For operational security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule and readiness profiles. The Ministry of Defence continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver our hig...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSubmarines: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many submarines have been unable to deploy due to maintenance overruns in each of the last five years; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the potential impact of increased operational tempos on
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Submarine Delivery Agency and industry partners to minimise maintenance overruns and ensure that submarine availability remains aligned with operations We are investing in infrastructure, work cap...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMiddle East: WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy vessels are deployed in the Middle East, including the types of vessels deployed, for each of the last ten years for which the latest data is available; and what assessment he has made of the
Answer: The number of ships that have been deployed to the Middle East region (which includes the Gulf and the Eastern mediterranean) for the past ten years shown in the table below: Year20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Number of Ships17141416131518118...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWarships: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the (a) frigate and (b) destroyer refit programmes that have been (i) cancelled and (ii) deferred on grounds of cost since July 2024.
Answer: The Royal Navy constantly reviews maintenance and refit requirements across the fleet to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking.No Type 45 refit programmes have been cancelled or deferred on the grounds of cost since July 20...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a timeline for the introduction of (a) future frigate classes, (b) autonomous systems and drones, and (c) AUKUS-related submarine capabilities; and if he will set out which of these will be ava
Answer: Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan. However, the first of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are scheduled to be ready for operations by the end of the decade, with further uncrewed and aut...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of readiness of the (a) Army and (b) RAF to respond to a high-intensity conflict, including (i) levels of critical munitions, (ii) levels of pe
Answer: The Armed Forces readiness is directed by the Armed Forces Plan, in which the Chief of the Defence Staff directs his Military Command Chiefs to hold a variety of Force Elements at varying levels of readiness. This readiness in aligned to our NATO Force Mo...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic Control: OxfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2025 to Question 77640 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, whether the DVLA has received requests for access to vehicle registration data from (a) Oxfordshire County Council an
Answer: In 2024/2025 financial year, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) received requests for registered keeper information from a third-party service provider on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in relation to zero-emissions zones and moving traf...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88357 on Great British Railways, whether she plans for the consultation on the draft policy to be launched during the passage of the Railways Bill in the H
Answer: As per the answer from 17 November 2025 to Question 88357, it is our intention for a consultation on a draft Access and Use Policy to be launched during Bill passage to support implementation of rail reform. No further details are available at this time. ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: ChinaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87864 on Department for Transport: Electric Vehicles, whether he has had discussions with car manufacturers on the potential impact of the entry o
Answer: China plays a significant global role across the automotive sector, and this brings challenges and opportunities for the UK. We closely monitor how changes to trade flows and other issues impact UK manufacturers. While DBT Ministers, including the Secreta...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Transport Police: Industrial DisputesDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officers of the British Transport Police are permitted to take industrial action.
Answer: In line with all other police forces, it is unlawful for British Transport Police (BTP) officers to take strike action, as per Section 280 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (consolidation) Act 1992.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 scores, what steps she is taking to reduce the performance gap between the UK nations and (a) Singapore, (b) Japan and (c) V
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.High and rising standards across education, from early years to adulthood, are key to unlocking stronger outcomes and a better future for children and young people....
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Industrial DisputesDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 19 September 2025, to Question 76656, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of trade unions objections to staff scanning electronic tickets without
Answer: Train operating companies are responsible for managing industrial relations with their workforces and trade unions. The Department engages regularly with all of its contracted train operating companies regarding their approach to industrial disputes, incl...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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