Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 141–160 of 1,038 · Department for Transport
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 121006, when the review of the highways maintenance funding formula will be completed; and if she will publish the outcomes of that review.
Any review would be conducted to align with the end of the period for which highways maintenance block allocations have already been made.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of opening cycleways to horse riders.
My Department has made no such assessment.Local authorities are responsible for the provision of cycling infrastructure and for considering appropriate provision for horse riders. The Highway Code is clear that cycle tracks are not intended for use by horse riders and any such assessment would be for local authorities to make.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the M6 Lune Gorge works on (a) freight movements and (b) connectivity between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For most of the M6 Lune Gorge works, traffic, including freight, will continue to use the M6 via a contraflow arrangement, which has been assessed as providing sufficient capacity to avoid significant delays. National Highways does not anticipate significant changes to freight movements as a result. A limited number of overnight and weekend full closures of the M6 will be required for safety reasons. For full closures between junction 38 and 39, traffic will use a fully signed diversion route via Junction 36 and the A6, A591 and A590, as agreed with relevant local highway authorities. This approach is intended to maintain connectivity between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout the works.
What estimate her Department has made of the current shortage of train drivers, broken down by Department for Transport Operator area, in terms of a) total number of drivers required, and b) percentage shortfall against required establishment; and what steps her Department is taking to address these shortages in each area.
The Department works with DFT Operator to ensure all operators have the appropriate resource to deliver timetabled services robustly, including train drivers. All train operating companies have been asked to complete a 7-point traincrew resourcing proposal as part of their annual business plan. These plans cover staffing levels, recruitment, training, overtime and planning efficiency to improve reliability, including revising target establishment levels to support effective workforce planning. When we assessed train operating companies’ levels of driver resource in 2024 we found shortages and excessive reliance on rest day working. The Department is also taking forward several measures to help the rail industry recruit new train drivers into the industry, including lowering the minimum age to be a train driver from 20 to 18 and working with Skills England and the rail industry to strengthen pathways for school leavers into train driving. This includes updating the Train Driving Level 3 Apprenticeship and developing a Rail Foundation Apprenticeship to be offered from the age of 16.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122319, what performance metrics the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency uses to assess the effectiveness of recruitment campaigns for driving examiners; and what the outcomes were for each campaign in terms of (a) applications received, (b) candidates progressing to interview and (c) appointments made.
On 31 March 2026, the Driver and Vehicle Service Agency (DVSA) had 1,604 full-time equivalent driving examiners (DE), the highest number since 2018 and 188 more DEs than on 30 April 2025. The table below shows the number of total completed applications DVSA received, the number of applicants invited to interview, the number of applicants invited to the driving assessment stage, applicants recruited and placed on a training course and how many applicants successfully passed training for the 10 recruitment campaigns in each of the three financial years to date: Campaign dateTotal completed applications receivedNo of applicants invited to interview stageNo of applicants invited to driving assessment stage after a successful interviewNo of applicants recruited and placed on a training courseNo of applicants that successfully passed a training courseMay-23655432 [note 1]432 [note 1]7962Sep-231,1687181525340Feb-242,6291,5782737962Jun-241,8161,207501175125Sep-242,2481,460479[note 3][note 3]Mar-253,8652,388361[note 3][note 3]Jul-251,182602267[note 3][note 3]Sep-252,6761,658380[note 3][note 3]Dec-253,4091,014504[note 3][note 2] [note 3]Feb-261,141777388Ongoing campaign still at selection stage therefore no applicants yet recruited and placed on a training course[note 1] - No of applicants invited to interview and driving assessment are the same as this was an assessment centre.[note 2] - 26 applicants booked to a future training course. No applicants from this campaign have yet passed training.[note 3] – DVSA continue to recruit from merit lists for these live recruitment campaigns. The final numbers for the recruitment campaigns shown are therefore not yet known. For all Civil Service roles, after starting an application, an applicant must complete initial forms with their personal details and to confirm such details as to their right to work in the UK. For a DE role, there are further questions to assess eligibility for the role, including the age of the applicant, and whether they hold a driving licence. If an applicant meets the necessary eligibility requirements, they are then asked to complete a full application form for DVSA to sift and progress to interview if successful.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 120168 on Immobilisation of Vehicles, how many immobilisation devices were unlawfully removed from a vehicle in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
The table below shows the number of immobilisation devices which were unlawfully removed from a vehicle in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. YearsTotal202221,135202320,855202428,059202528,642Total98,691
When her Department will publish updated guidance to local authorities on (a) setting local speed limits and (b) the deployment of speed and red-light cameras; and whether a timetable has been set for implementation.
As previously stated, the Department will begin work on updating the Setting Local Speed Limits and Red Light and Speed Camera guidance shortly.
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 121409 on Parking: Private Sector, when did the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency last review the £2.50 fee charged for the release of vehicle keeper data; what the outcome of that review was; and when the next scheduled review of that fee will take place.
The £2.50 fee for the release of vehicle keeper data is currently being reviewed. If there are any changes made to the fee as a result of that review, these will be communicated at the appropriate time.
What was the purchase price for an individual of an a) Network Railcard, b) 16-17 Saver, c) 16-25 Railcard, d) 26-30 Railcard, e) Family & Friends Railcard, f)) Two Together Railcard, g) Senior Railcard, h) Disabled Persons Railcard and i) Veterans Railcard in each year of the last 10 years.
The table below contains the prices of these railcards for each of the last 10 years (or from their introduction if this is more recent). In addition, the final column shows what the cost would be now in 2025/26 if the price had been increased by RPI cumulatively since 2016/17: 2016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/252025/26What the price would be in 25/26 if the price had been increased by cumulative RPI since 2016/17Network Railcard£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£4516-17 SaverN/AN/AN/A£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£4516-25 Railcard£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£4526-30 RailcardN/AN/A£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£45Family & Friends Railcard£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£45Two Together Railcard£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£45Senior Railcard£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£30£35£45Disabled Persons Railcard£20£20£20£20£20£20£20£20£20£20£30Veterans RailcardN/AN/AN/AN/A£21£30£30£30£30£35£45
How many driving examiners started to practice in each month from July 2024 to the latest month for which figures are available.
The table below shows the number of recruited driving examiners (DE) who successfully completed training and were posted to a driving test centre, each month from July 2024 to February 2026. Please note, the data shows the month DEs successfully passed training and does not necessarily represent when they first conducted a test as a DE. For example, a trainee DE might have passed training on the last day of any given month, but would not have conducted their first test until the following month. MonthNew DEs who have successfully completed training and moved into driving test centre.Jul-2410Aug-2412Sep-2419Oct-247Nov-2410Dec-246Jan-2516Feb-2536Mar-2523Apr-2517May-2514Jun-2530Jul-2526Aug-2517Sep-2548Oct-2525Nov-2556Dec-2519Jan-2625Feb-2627
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122594, what her Department’s estimate is for the date by which trains for those services will be (i) modified and (ii) fully tested.
Chiltern subleases the trains that will be used on East West Rail from West Midlands Trains. The operators continue to work jointly with the train owner and the industry supply chain on the schedule for the final modifications which are expected to be delivered and tested in the coming months.
What the cost will be of the Zero Emission Truck and Van funding package over its lifetime, including associated grant schemes.
The cost of this package is set out at: www.gov.uk/government/news/1-billion-to-cut-costs-for-businesses-drive-growth-and-clean-up-uk-roads
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122543 on Driving Tests: Recruitment, what data the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency collects on the source of applications for driving examiner roles at the point of application submission.
All driving examiner (DE) applications are made through Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK. At the point of submitting an application on Civil Service Jobs no applicant source information is recorded.Answer to Question 122526, 20 March 2026, provides details of subsequent surveys that might be completed by applicants. Answer to Question 122526, 20 March 2026, also provided information on click through rates, but notes that it is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122545 on the Vehicle Certification Agency: Fees and Charges, whether her Department has produced internal estimates of the additional annual revenue expected from the proposed fee increases.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) recently consulted on changes to certain fees. As part of the fee setting process the government considers all the evidence provided as well as long standing principles included in Managing Public Money. Any fee changes require the consent of this House through a fee order. As is the standard practice, I will update the House in due course
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122525, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of click-throughs from (a) social media advertising and (b) DVSA job alert emails that resulted in (i) started and (ii) completed applications for driving examiner roles in the last 12 months.
All driving examiner (DE) applications are made through Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK. At the point of submitting an application on Civil Service Jobs no applicant source information is recorded.Answer to Question 122526, 20 March 2026, provides details of subsequent surveys that might be completed by applicants. Answer to Question 122526, 20 March 2026, also provided information on click through rates, but notes that it is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 121310 on Roads: Closures, what plans her Department to make a formal national assessment of the potential impact of long-term road and bridge closures on small businesses; and what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on this issue.
The impacts of long‑term road or bridge closures on small businesses vary significantly depending on local circumstances and the mitigation measures put in place. Responsibility for managing and mitigating these impacts sits with local highway authorities, which are best placed to understand local conditions.The Department for Transport’s Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn out tunnels across England, mitigating the need for road and bridge closures in the future.
How many full-time equivalent driving examiners recruited by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) were (a) in post and (b) delivering practical car driving tests in i) January 2026, ii) February 2026 and iii) March 2026.
The answer to Question 122532, 20 March 2026, provides data for the months January 2026 and February 2026 respectively. The table below shows how many full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners were in post, and out of those, how many were available to deliver practical car driving tests in March 2026. FTE DEs in-post *Available to deliver practical car driving tests1649.131,604* - Includes those who are in training to be a driving examiner.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of contrails on its Airspace Modernisation Strategy.
The Airspace Modernisation Strategy supports the aviation sector in reducing emissions through aircraft flying more direct routes. Contrails arise from a combination of jet fuel combustion, air particles, water vapour and atmospheric conditions, and as such are considered through the Department’s work with the sector via the Jet Zero Strategy and Taskforce, which look at aviation decarbonisation holistically.
How many staff are employed by the HS2 Ltd Helpdesk.
Twenty FTE (Full Time Equivalent) staff are employed on the HS2 Ltd helpdesk.
On what date (a) Mark Wild’s contract as Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd was signed, (b) his appointment was publicly announced and (c) he took up his role.
Mark Wild’s contract with HS2 Ltd was signed on 10 May 2024, his appointment was announced on 24 May 2024, and he started the role on 2 December 2024.