Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 861–880 of 1,022 · Department for Transport
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of road user charges on haulage sector costs since July 2024.
The Department engages with the road haulage industry regularly about issues faced by the sector, including cost pressures.
What estimate her Department has made of the cost of private operator exit arrangements during the transition to Great British Railways.
The process to close National Rail Contracts is set out in the contract themselves which are published on the gov.uk website. The process ensures value for money for the taxpayer is protected from the outgoing operator as the balance sheets are unwound and revenues collected on the Department’s behalf in accordance with the contract.
What proportion of vehicles subsidised through the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme were manufactured outside the United Kingdom in 2025–26.
The Department is unable to confirm the proportion of vehicles supported by Electric Car Grant that were manufactured outside the United Kingdom as the 2025/26 sales year is ongoing and grants are only paid following the vehicle’s delivery to the customer, which can extend up to nine months from the point an order is made.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes made to national road maintenance capital allocations at the 2025 Spending Review on local highway maintenance performance indicators.
At the Spending Review, the Government announced £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve our motorways and local roads across the country. This funding increase will allow National Highways and local authorities to invest in significantly improving the long-term condition of England’s road network, delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys. This includes £1 billion for key local highway enhancement projects and a new Structures Fund for repairing run-down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. The Government will confirm highways maintenance funding allocations for local highway authorities in due course.
With reference to the press release entitled Biggest ever investment in city region local transport as Chancellor vows the 'Renewal of Britain', published on 4 June 2025, how much and what proportion of the funding announced for local transport projects has been allocated to each mayoral combined authority.
Allocations for each Mayoral Strategic Authority were confirmed in June and published on gov.uk. online.
Whether her Department has set a maximum proportion of devolved transport funds that may be used for (a) programme management and (b) administration costs in the 2025-26 financial year.
For the financial year 2025/26, the Department secured and allocated a City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) revenue resource funding (RDEL) uplift of £93 million for the nine recipient Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), which was confirmed by the Department in January this year. This devolved funding is for MSAs to build capacity and capability within their organisations, in order to support the delivery of their CRSTS programmes, as well as manage the transition between CRSTS and the next five-year Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlement period from April 2027 to March 2032.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the electric vehicle grant on employment in the automotive manufacturing sector.
The Electric Car Grant supports sustainably manufactured electric vehicles, which the UK automotive sector is well placed to benefit from. The Government is supporting domestic manufacturers, which directly employ 132,000 people, to transition to zero emission technology with the £2.5 billion DRIVE35 programme, part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.
How much funding from the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Fund was contractually committed to specific projects as of 1 October 2025.
The total amount of funding contractually committed to improvement projects for the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme, as of 1st October, is £13,849,303.45. The scheme held three windows (each open approximately 8 weeks) for which the financial breakdown is recorded per window rather than financial years. Application window openedTotal awardedTotal - spend to dateWindow 1 - Nov 2022£5,427,497.05£4,654,503.89Window 2 - Sept 2023£4,778,778.09£4,156,025.66Window 3 - May 2024£3,643,028.31£1,361,536.83Overall MFGS£13,849,303.45.£10,172,066.38
How much her Department has spent through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Fund in each year since 2021.
The total amount of funding contractually committed to improvement projects for the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme, as of 1st October, is £13,849,303.45. The scheme held three windows (each open approximately 8 weeks) for which the financial breakdown is recorded per window rather than financial years. Application window openedTotal awardedTotal - spend to dateWindow 1 - Nov 2022£5,427,497.05£4,654,503.89Window 2 - Sept 2023£4,778,778.09£4,156,025.66Window 3 - May 2024£3,643,028.31£1,361,536.83Overall MFGS£13,849,303.45.£10,172,066.38
Whether her Department has set targets for growth in rail freight volumes between 2025 and 2030.
The Government is committed to supporting rail freight growth, recognising its significant economic and environmental benefits, as well as the role it plays in the UK’s resilience. We have confirmed that there will be an overall target of a 75% increase in rail freight moved by 2050. More granular growth targets for GBR will follow in due course. For the current Control Period 7 (2024 to 2029) Network Rail have a regulated growth target of 7.5% increase in freight moved. In the first year, statistics from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) reported a 5% increase.
Pursuant to the the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71272 Lower Thames Crossing, for what reason no evaluation of the Lower Thames Crossing was completed prior to approval of the Full Business Case; and whether any interim assessments have been undertaken by (a) her Department and (b) the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
The Full Business Case (FBC) for the scheme has not yet been developed. Decisions on the scheme remain subject to the Department’s established governance and assurance processes. These include rigorous internal scrutiny and oversight mechanisms, as well as engagement with external assurance bodies, including the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
Whether her Department undertook a value-for-money assessment under HM Treasury Green Book guidance before announcing its support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
A Treasury Green Book Value for Money assessment is a process and judgement about the optimal use of public resources to achieve the stated objectives of a project. We have been clear throughout that any expansion of Heathrow Airport should be funded entirely by the private sector.
What criteria her Department uses to assess the value for money of devolved transport funding allocations to mayoral combined authorities.
Mayoral Combined Authorities (MSAs) in receipt of devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) and Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements are required to assess the value for money of schemes against Green Book guidance as part of their business case development. In addition, certain schemes that reach defined thresholds are retained with additional scrutiny provided by the Department.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2025 to Question 76656 on Railways: Industrial Disputes, whether her Department has (a) had discussions with (i) TransPennine Express and (ii) CrossCountry on industrial action concerning new technology payments; and (b) made an assessment of trends in the level of remuneration arrangements for electronic ticket scanning across contracted train operating companies.
It is for a train operator, as employer, to negotiate terms and conditions that are fair to staff and affordable for taxpayers. Both CrossCountry and Transpennine Trains have kept officials informed on the progress of negotiations with the RMT. I understand that CrossCountry and RMT have recently made progress on a number of issues in dispute including this one, leading to the suspension of industrial action on 18 October.
Whether the review of powered mobility devices will consider (a) restricting and (b) prohibiting the use of mobility scooters on pavements.
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are already legally restricted to 4 miles per hour on pavements. As part of the powered mobility device review, we intend to consult publicly to ensure everyone has the opportunity to give their views and make sure the regulations are designed with, and not for, disabled people. The safety of all users who rely on a powered mobility device, pedestrians and other road users will be a key consideration in the review.
Whether her Department has made an estimate of projected administrative savings from consolidating train operating companies under Great British Railways.
The Government expects to make efficiencies and savings through public ownership of rail services and from rail reform with the creation of Great British Railways. This means that the rail passenger services subsidy will reduce over the period covered by the Spending Review 2025. Moreover, Great British Railways will deliver the integration and cost-saving benefits that come with overseeing both infrastructure and service delivery together in a single organisation.
How many senior executive roles at Great British Railways have been appointed at salaries exceeding £150,000 per annum.
No senior executive appointments have been made to Great British Railways, as it does not exist yet.
Whether any mayoral combined authorities have requested flexibility in the use of devolved transport funds allocated through the 2025 Spending Review.
As City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) and Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements funding is devolved, the programme already affords Mayoral Combined Authorities (MSAs) flexibility in the use of funds to support local needs and strategic aims. From April 2026, six MSAs will receive CRSTS and TCR as part of an Integrated Settlement providing greater flexibility. The Department will continue to engage with MSAs as they develop their programmes.
What mechanisms her Department uses to ensure consistency in (a) data reporting and (b) financial control between Great British Railways and devolved transport bodies.
The creation of Great British Railways (GBR) will bring about changes in the way that rail services are managed, and in the way rail operates as a whole. In its role as the ‘directing mind’, GBR will integrate track and train at a local level to better deliver for passengers, taxpayers, and freight customers and to unlock growth. Given GBR is not yet established, detailed work on its design, implementation, and interactions with other bodies remains underway.
Whether she plans to raise rail fares above the rate of inflation; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of any such increase on (a) passengers and (b) the economy.
No decisions have been made on next year’s rail fares, but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers. There will be an update on changes to regulated rail fares in due course.