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 1,921–1,940 of 2,842 · this parliament
Whether he plans to lay a new Official Statistics Order to designate the Passenger Standards Authority’s statistical outputs as official statistics.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 22nd May is attached.
Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47834 on Data, Science and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, whether the Government plans to publish a formal response to each of the recommendations made by the review.
As outlined in my previous Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47834, relevant departments and policy teams will consider the findings in light of their ongoing policy work.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish the findings of stakeholder engagement carried out by his Department on the potential licensing of animal rescue centres in 2023.
The Department continues to engage regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices. This Government will introduce the most ambitious plan to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course. Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must provide for the five basic welfare needs of the animals set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes has developed voluntary guidance on minimum standards, but significant variation does exist. Local authorities and the police have the same powers of entry for these premises as would apply to any welfare concerns under the Animal Welfare Act.
What financial interests have been declared by Jonathan Powell.
There is an established system in place for the declaration and management of financial interests. As has been the case under successive administrations, interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the Charity Commission on improving (a) information sharing and (b) oversight of animal rescue organisations operating at scale but outside existing statutory licensing frameworks.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 cover five licensable activities: selling animals as pets; providing or arranging boarding for cats or dogs; hiring out horses; breeding dogs; and keeping or training animals for exhibition. Defra issues supporting statutory guidance, which furnishes practical detail on how the regulations should be applied, including in relation to the business test. Local authorities must have regard to this statutory guidance. Defra regularly engages with a range of stakeholders across the animal welfare and charity sectors, including regulatory agencies. We continue to explore opportunities to improve coordination and information sharing where appropriate.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introducing licensing for (a) animal sanctuaries and (b) rescue and rehoming centres for (i) cats, (ii) dogs, (iii) horses and (iv) other animals.
The Department continues to engage regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices. This Government will introduce the most ambitious plan to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course. Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must provide for the five basic welfare needs of the animals set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes has developed voluntary guidance on minimum standards, but significant variation does exist. Local authorities and the police have the same powers of entry for these premises as would apply to any welfare concerns under the Animal Welfare Act.
How many complaints the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards has received in the period since his remit was amended to allow him to initiate investigations unilaterally.
The 2024-2025 Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Annual Report covers the exercise of the Independent Adviser’s functions for the year. This was published on 29 May 2025, and is available here.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulations in relation to unlicensed animal rescue centres; and whether he plans to consult on new licensing of registration requirements.
The Department continues to engage regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices. This Government will introduce the most ambitious plan to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course. Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must provide for the five basic welfare needs of the animals set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes has developed voluntary guidance on minimum standards, but significant variation does exist. Local authorities and the police have the same powers of entry for these premises as would apply to any welfare concerns under the Animal Welfare Act.
Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Ofcom consultation on a proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code on freedom of speech.
Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.
Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51165 on Government Departments: Flags, whether VAT was paid on the purchases; what the size of the flags purchased was; and whether the flags were (a) printed and (b) sewn.
VAT was paid at point of purchase by the Government Property Agency (GPA) Regional Supply Chain Provider. Where GPA is making a purchase, to ensure quality and longevity, where possible, sewn flags are purchased. The size of the Pride flag is 4 yards. This is a sewn flag and was provided roped and toggled. The size of the Ukraine flag is 3 yards. This is a sewn flagged and was provided roped and toggled.
Media and Sport, if he will make an estimate of the cost of the Ofcom consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.
Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.
Media and Sport, whether he has had recent (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) correspondence with Ofcom on its consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.
Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.
Media and Sport, if he will ask Ofcom to withdraw its consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.
Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48551 on Trade Union Recognition, what criteria he will use to assess whether to lower the recognition threshold.
The Government will consider what criteria to assess whether to lower the recognition threshold in due course, including through the public consultation process.
What steps he is taking to support dementia-friendly adaptations in pubs and hospitality venues.
We want people with dementia to live well and remain independent for as long as possible in their communities.Through the Dementia Friendly Communities programme, we are making society more inclusive, with communities and organisations committing to support people to continue to do the things they want to do, including going to the pub or attending hospitality venues, for as long as possible.For example, we continue to support initiatives, such as the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support initiative, which link people, their families, and carers with local support services.
How many instances there have been of foreign-owned companies using shell companies to bypass the National Security and Investment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024.
Under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, the Government identifies and takes action in investments and other acquisitions of control in the UK economy that could harm our national security. Our powers apply to all types of acquirer. Acquisitions in the most sensitive parts of our economy are subject to mandatory notification regardless of the type of acquirer. The Government also monitors the market at all times to identify acquisitions of potential national security interest. The Government will conduct due diligence on acquisitions under review. This is backed up by statutory information gathering powers and the ability to impose civil or criminal penalties for noncompliance. Further guidance on the NSI Act and how it applies to different types of acquisition is available on GOV.UK.
Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51962 on Abellio Greater Anglia and c2c: Standards, what her planned timeline is for the improvements to Cambridge South Station; when the Transport and Works Act Order for the project was issued; when did construction begin; and when it is expected to be completed.
The Transport and Works Act Order for Cambridge South was granted in December 2022, and construction work began on site in February 2023. We expect the new station to open early in 2026; an exact date will be confirmed later in the year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47817 on Ministry of Justice: Equality, if she will publish all documentation associated with the training on creating inclusive virtual teams.
Training materials associated with the Ministry of Justice’s course Creating Inclusive Virtual Teams are subject to copyright and confidentiality considerations.The documentation includes proprietary material provided by third-party training providers under licence and therefore cannot be published in full.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47820 on Office for Value for Money: Aviation, if she will make it her policy to instruct the Office for Value for Money to undertake an assessment into the value for money of Ministers’ use of non-scheduled flights.
At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor tasked the Office for Value for Money with supporting Value for Money (VfM) decisions as part of the spending review, including supporting departments to develop efficiency targets underpinned by credible delivery plans, scrutinising investment proposals and conducting studies into cross-cutting issues where there is a high-risk of poor VfM. The OVfM will also recommend reforms to the spending framework. The OVfM’s remit has not changed.
With reference to the press release of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament of 1 May 2025, whether he plans to re-locate the Committee's secretariat to outside the Cabinet Office.
We are engaging constructively with the Intelligence and Security Committee and will continue to do so over the coming months.