Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Fuller this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 56 · this parliament
What estimate her Department has made of the total annual operating costs of public sector companies succeeding private franchises under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill ; and if she will provide a breakdown of how the funds currently recovered from private Train Operating Companies for the British Transport Police budget will be accounted for within the financial implications of the Bill.
Awaiting answer.
What progress Northern has made on upgrading train sanding systems to improve braking performance since 17 December 2025; how many older units have been fitted with variable-rate sanding equipment to date; and whether the project remains on track for completion by autumn 2028.
Awaiting answer.
With reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955, if she will provide a breakdown of the programmes Network Rail is undertaking to achieve its Net Zero target; and what the estimated cost to the public purse is of those programmes.
Awaiting answer.
With reference to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 100955, if she will provide a breakdown of programmes the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is undertaking to decarbonise its driving test centre and vehicle inspection estate by 2050; and what total funding has been allocated to these schemes.
Awaiting answer.
For each train operating company under DfT Operator ownership, how many services were operated with fewer carriages than planned in each of the last 18 months; and what percentage of that operator’s total services this represented.
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
With reference to the Government public awareness campaign entitled Millions got a pay rise, what is the total budget for the communications campaign, and over what period; what communications channels have been used; what external agencies have been contracted; and what was the process by which the communications campaign was signed off under communications spending controls.
Awaiting answer.
If she will provide (a) staff costs, (b) non-staff costs, (c) total costs and (d) Full-Time Equivalent for the Competition and Markets Authority's Sustainability Taskforce for the financial years (i) 2023-2024, (ii) 2024-2025 and (iii) 2025-2026.
The information requested is as follows:FYStaff CostsNon-Staff CostsTotal CostFull-Time Equivalent2023-24£418,715.01£3,335.36£422,050.375.42024-25£342,306.01£677.18£342,983.193.9The CMA is not able to provide figures for 2025/26 before its accounts for the financial year are finalised and published in July.
What estimate her Department has made of the average cost of (a) employing a (i) teacher and (ii) a member of support staff and (b) energy and (c) other non-staff expenditure per pupil in the (A) 2023-24 and (B) 2024-25 and (C) 2025-26 and (D) 2026-27 financial year.
The department publishes the ‘Schools’ costs: technical note’ (SCTN), which includes data on school workforce costs and non-staff expenditure, including energy. This year’s SCTN publication and historical publications are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-costs-technical-note.
With reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the OCS invoice dated 6 November 2025 relating to the works on the 9 Downing Street media room; and if he will provide the transaction number, value and date for the reimbursed payment to the Government Property Agency.
Awaiting answer.
What expenditure has the British Transport Police made on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 111852, if he will list the seven approvals granted for branded items since 24 April 2025, including for each (a) the department or business unit, (b) the description of the branded item, (c) the purpose of the expenditure, and (d) the total cost.
On 6 April 2025, the previous Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a ban on unnecessary branded merchandise. The details of the seven approvals granted for branded items since 24 April 2025 are as follows (costs exclude VAT):Government People Group, Pull Up Banners for Future Leaders Scheme. £596.14.Government Commercial Function, Panel Table Cover and lectern for GCF Conference. £752.00.Civil Service Strategy Unit. Pull Up Banners for One Big Thing 2025. £432.64.Civil Service Strategy Unit, Profession stickers divided into 11 professions to be given to visitors to the CSSU market stall in 6 Civil Service Live events as a collaboration and networking tool. £773.68.Cabinet Office, Commemorative coins for attendees of a multinational event. £466.44.Government People Group, Branded t-shirts for Pride events across the UK. £540.74.Government Commercial Function, Glass Recognition trophies required for Rising Star Awards at the GCF Regional Conferences, arranged throughout October 2025 across three regions (North, Northern Ireland, South and Wales). £62.48.
With reference to the Answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124883 on the Supply Chain Centre, how much has been allocated to the Centre in (a) 2025-2026, (b) 2026-2027 and (c) 2027-2028 financial years; and how many full-time equivalent staff it (i) currently has and (ii) will have at its formal launch.
We expect to launch the Supply Chain Centre formally later this year. At present, the team has a headcount of 33, with an associated budget of £2,778,886. Budgets for future years will be set at a later date.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the water industry regulatory framework in providing flexibility to enable water and wastewater companies to respond to major new housing growth, including the proposed Tempsford new town.
Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes. Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions. The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth. The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Ofwat on ensuring that future price review processes consider strategic developments including new towns such as Tempsford.
Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes. Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions. The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth. The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.
Whether she plans to publish an updated Business Case for East West Rail before the commencement of the Development Consent Order examination.
In line with Treasury guidance, the development of the Business Case for East West Rail will progress as East West Rail Company continues to develop and refine the project. The Full Business Case will be submitted for approval and then published, once planning consent has been secured, which is standard for this type of project.
What agreement has been made between East West Rail and Universal Destinations and Experiences on the development timeline of East West Rail during the construction of the Universal Theme Park in Bedfordshire.
Universal’s plans for a theme park near Stewartby represents a significant local and national opportunity for economic growth. Following Government approval of the theme park in April 2025, EWR Co is working alongside Universal and key stakeholders to help integrate their proposals for the theme park with the railway and maximise the potential of both.
What recent estimate she has made of the cost per kilometre of East West Rail from Bedford to Cambridge.
Capital cost estimates for Connection Stages 2 (Oxford-Bedford) and 3 (Oxford-Cambridge) routes were published by East West Rail Company in 2024. Final costs for the project will be driven by scope and design choices.
What her planned timetable is for the construction of a railway station at Tempsford.
East West Rail Company has set out details of its proposals for a new station at Tempsford as part of East West Rail in its autumn announcement in November 2025. The Government and East West Rail Company have committed to bring forward the delivery of a new station at Tempsford to introduce services on the East Coast Main Line to the area ahead of the full East West Rail scheme opening and design work is progressing on this.
Whether a decision has been made on the type of power or traction to be used on East West Rail.
In its autumn announcement in November 2025, EWR Co set out proposals for the discontinuous (partial) electrification of the line which can deliver net zero services with hybrid battery-electric trains.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Government intends to provide exceptional funding support to Bedford Borough Council to cover costs incurred as a result of the Cleat Hill explosion on 19 October 2024.
The impact of the explosion and fire and the tragic loss of life would have been traumatic and I have great sympathy for all those affected. The Department continues to engage directly with Bedford on its overall financial position, including communicating a response to the Council's request to activate the Bellwin scheme in relation to the Cleat Hill explosion. The Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 20 November confirmed that there will continue to be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions. This reflects the ongoing challenges for councils dealing with the legacy of the previous system, while the Government is delivering much needed reforms to the funding framework. Following the Policy Statement the Department issued technical guidance to councils which set out that they should confirm any request for support by 12 December, and that any decisions under this framework are usually taken shortly after the final Local Government Finance Settlement.