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 1,501–1,520 of 3,277 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 85352 on Airports: Business Rates, what the rateable value is for each civil airport in England and Wales.
The VOA published the draft 2026 Rating List valuations on 26 November 2025; the compiled list will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
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 personnel and (iii) equipment availability rates.
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 Model along with our Sovereign defence and our ability to respond to crisis.Defence continues to focus on ensuring its readiness, including for a high-intensity conflict, in line with the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The SDR is already being implemented, and the Defence Investment Plan will further shape our priorities to ensure we can continue to meet the threats we face.
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 House of Commons or House of Lords.
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.
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.
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 2024.In November 2024, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland was to be retired due to the structural damage discovered during refit which rendered the vessel uneconomical to repair.
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 submarine availability.
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 capacity and improved maintenance processes to mitigate the impact of increased operational tempos on the Fleet.
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 available before 2030.
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 autonomous systems scheduled to be introduced over the next five years. By 2030, AUKUS partners will establish a rotational SSN presence in Australia, embed advanced technologies through Pillar II, and build industrial and workforce capacity.
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 and (b) Oxford City Council in financial year 2024 to 2025 for the purposes of (i) congestion charging, (ii) traffic filters, (iii) zero-emission zone enforcement and (iv) moving traffic offences; and what the statutory authority is for each of those requests.
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 traffic offences. It is not possible to say if requests specifically relating to traffic filters have been received as they would be included in the category of moving traffic offences. The Oxford congestion charge came into effect in October 2025. Oxford City Council requested information, also through a third-party service provider, for off-street parking management only. Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 allows the DVLA to make information about UK vehicles and their registered keepers available for use by a local authority for any purpose connected with the investigation of an offence. The same regulation also allows the DVLA to make information available to a local authority in England and Wales when it is acting as an enforcement authority within the meaning of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. These provisions apply to Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77643 on London Underground: Strikes, for what reason her Department met with Transport for London on 8 September 2025.
To confirm the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84702, the meeting referred to took place on 11 September 2025. Ministers and officials have regular meetings with Transport for London to discuss a variety of issues including any continuing industrial action on the London transport network.
What steps his Department is taking to encourage healthy eating habits in young people, separate from Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations.
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.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide#The Eatwell Guide’s principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Department social marketing campaigns, which encompass Better Health, Better Health Families, and Best Start in Life. This includes a series of websites and digital tools that support families with young children to eat better, providing guidance on healthy eating, such as the Food Scanner app and email programmes.Education around healthy eating is also covered through a number of school curriculum subjects.The Eatwell Guide also underpins Government catering guidance and standards. Earlier this year, the Government committed to reviewing the School Food Standards to reflect the most recent Government dietary recommendations. These standards are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/school-food-standards-practical-guideAs set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, the Government has committed to actions to encourage a food environment that supports everyone, including young people, to make healthier choices, including:implementing restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food or drink products on television before 9:00pm and all paid-for advertising online;consulting on our plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old; andusing our Revised National Planning Policy Framework to give local authorities stronger powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools.Further information on the 10-Year Health Plan is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-futureThere are a range of actions that have already been taken, including the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, location promotions restrictions, and calorie labelling. Prior to the General Election in July 2024, the Department also legislated to introduce restrictions on the volume price promotions retailers can offer on ‘less healthy’ food and drink in stores and their equivalent places online. These measures came into force in England on 1 October 2025.
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.
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 inequalities. This Government has already taken significant steps to stabilise and improve NHS mental health services but there is much more to do.Although there are currently no plans to set targets regarding the improvement of community care for young people with eating disorders, more young people are being supported to access NHS mental health services. Between July and September 2025, 3,010 young people with eating disorder issues entered treatment, which is an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year. This is helped by almost 7,000 extra mental health workers being recruited since July 2024, against our target of 8,500 by the end of this Parliament.The 10-Year Health Plan aims to shift more care to the community and reform the health system, including eating disorder services, to adopt more neighbourhood models of working where cross-sector collaboration is the norm.
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) Vietnam; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the scores on the UK's (i) overall productivity, (ii) skills base and (iii) international competitiveness.
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.To drive high standards across the PISA subjects of mathematics, reading and science, the government has committed £27.7 million this financial year, supporting the teaching of phonics, early language and reading for pleasure via the English Hubs programme. We will also introduce a new reading assessment in year 8 to check progress. Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendations, we will revise the maths curriculum from key stages 1 to 3 to support mastery and ensure a strong foundation for all children. Regional improvement for standards and excellence teams also work closely with Maths and English Hubs to share best practice.PISA rankings look at the relative position between the different countries, however, the scores provide an absolute measure of performance in a country and are comparable over time.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) planned capital investment in the UK automotive sector, (b) the economies of areas with substantial automotive manufacturing and (c) that sector’s international competitiveness relative to EU and US automotive labour markets.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on SME firms within UK automotive supply chains; and whether his Department has undertaken any separate modelling of the cost implications for SMEs operating as tier-two and tier-three suppliers.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) UK automotive manufacturers and (b) their domestic supply chains; and whether he has estimated the (i) additional annual recurring cost of that Bill and (ii) aggregate additional cost to that sector in each of the first five years after Royal Assent.
On Monday 21 October 2024, the Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill [Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK]. The assessment provides analysis of the potential costs and benefits to business, the impacts on SMEs, potential trade implications as well as the sectoral impacts of the Bill, including the manufacturing sector.
What formal consultation his Department has undertaken with (a) UK automotive manufacturers and (b) their UK-based supply-chain firms on the Employment Rights Bill; what representations his Department has received from those businesses; and how the Government has responded to those representations.
The Government is committed to engaging closely with employers throughout the development and implementation of Make Work Pay. Officials meet regularly with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss the Employment Rights Bill, as well as other bodies representing automotive manufacturers and suppliers, such as Make UK, the largest representative of UK manufacturers. There is also regular engagement through the Auto Council’s Skills Working Group.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Chiltern Railways’ decision to adopt driver-only operation on the Oxford to Milton Keynes section of East West Rail on the future operating framework for Great British Railways (GBR); and whether GBR plans to implement this on other parts of the network.
In line with the Government's priorities for rail reform, the design work for the future of rail services in Britain is focused on improvements for passengers, better value for taxpayers and the key themes of reliability, affordability, efficiency, quality, accessibility and safety. We will continue to engage with the industry on our plans for GBR.
How many kilometres of life-expired steel barrier have been replaced with concrete barrier on the Strategic Road Network in each of the last four years excluding upgrades delivered through the Smart Motorways Programme and the Smart Motorways Alliance; and what her projection is for steel-to-concrete barrier replacement outside the smart motorway programme in 2025–26.
Through its renewals programme, National Highways has delivered 52.6 kilometres of concrete barrier over the last four years and are projecting to deliver a further 14 kilometres of concrete barrier in 2025-26. This is excluding upgrades delivered through the Smart Motorways Programme and Smart Motorways Alliance. A breakdown of National Highways’ delivery over the four-year period: 2021-222022-232023-242024-25RIS2 TotalConcrete Barrier (KM)3.19.813.626.152.6
How many electric vehicles (a) manufactured by Chinese companies and (b) containing Chinese-made critical components are in use across the defence estate.
This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Whether it is her Department's policy that 50% of journeys in towns and cities should be walked or cycled by 2030.
The second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which ended in March 2025, included an objective that 50% of short journeys in towns and cities should be walked or cycled by 2030. The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy was launched on the 3rd November and seeks the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published next year, including future targets, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.
With reference to the Interim Settlement: Investment and Management of the Strategic Road Network from April 2025 to March 2026, what the estimated quantity is of life-expired steel barrier that will be replaced with concrete barrier as part of the delivery of 261 kilometres of vehicle restraint systems.
For the Interim Settlement period of 2025-2026, National Highways are currently forecasting to deliver 14 kilometres of concrete barrier replacing life-expired steel barrier.