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 2,161–2,180 of 2,912 · this parliament
What steps she is planning to take to improve the (a) C2C and (b) Greater Anglia rail networks.
The Cambridge South station project will deliver a new four-platform station on the West Anglia Main Line between the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Southern Fringe development area. Consideration of further improvements to the C2C and Greater Anglia networks will be informed by Spending Review 2025.
If he will publish guidance provided to members of the Advisory Committee for Business Appointments.
The Business Appointment Rules and the Committee’s guidance on how it applies the Business Appointment Rules are available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-appointment-rules.
Whether the utility bills for the Ministerial residences in Admiralty House are individually metered.
The Admiralty House residences are currently individually metered for gas utilities only. However, the gas supply to the residences has been stopped following the removal of all gas appliances. Although not metered individually, water and electricity usage continues to be managed centrally and costs approved as necessary for the residences.
Whether he plans to take steps to improve the Display Energy Certificate rating for 10 Downing Street.
Across the Cabinet Office Estate, which includes 10 Downing Street, steps are always being taken to maximise energy efficiency.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the lower price point of very high puff-count vapes on youth vaping.
The Department has not made a direct assessment of the potential impact of the lower price point of high puff-count vapes on youth vaping. However, it is incredibly worrying that 25% of 11 to 15 year old had tried vaping, as of 2023. To address this, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the advertising of vaping and nicotine products, as well as sponsorship agreements which promote them. It also provides powers to limit flavours, packaging, and displays, and provides powers that allow the Government to regulate the tank sizes and refill containers, and the amount of liquid that can be included. The Government intends to consult on these issues soon after Royal Assent.The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is introducing a ban on single-use vapes, which is defined as a vape that is neither refillable nor rechargeable, and if it has a coil, the coil must be replaceable. This will capture most “big puff” vapes currently on the market.Alongside this, and to discourage non-smokers and young people from taking up vaping, the Government will be introducing the Vaping Products Duty, which will come into force from 1 October 2026. The duty will be set at a single flat rate of £2.20 per 10 millilitre on all vaping liquid.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48962 on Civil Service: Redundancy Pay, for what reason he decided to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme; when the decision was made; and whether he plans to publish a formal response to the consultation.
The consultation began in 2017. As the previous administration did not manage to make progress on this after 7 years of an open consultation, a decision was taken in March 2025 to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme on the basis that the process was no longer viable. We will continue to monitor the impact of the existing scheme terms and cost impacts.
With reference to the document entitled HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025, whether the she discussed the foreign influence registration scheme in relation to China with (a) the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and (b) HBSC on 11 and 12 January 2025.
The Chancellor did not discuss the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with HSBC or the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade during the lunch and dinner referred to in the HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025.
What (a) gifts and (b) hospitality she has (i) accepted and (ii) reimbursed the donor for since 4 July 2024.
The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of Ministers’ gifts and hospitality. These returns, including the Chancellor’s, can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality
With reference to the publication HM Treasury: Ministers' Hospitality February 2025, published on 25 April 2025, if she will list the Global Counsel representatives she met on 19 February 2025.
The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of the hospitality that Ministers have received, which can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality It should be noted, however, that the Cabinet Office state in their guidance that the names of individuals should only be reported where the individuals are representing their own interests, with the exception of Senior Media Figures.
Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48565 on Proof of Identity: Databases and Digital Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) Tony Blair and (b) the Tony Blair Institute on proposals for a national digital identity database.
The department has not had any recent discussions or meetings with (a) Tony Blair or (b) Tony Blair Institute on proposals for a national identity database.
If she will make a comparative assessment of (a) levels of passenger satisfaction and (b) the number of trains on that have run on time on (i) Northern Rail, (ii) C2C and (iii) Greater Anglia in the last 12 months.
A comparison with Northern is not appropriate as this Government inherited that operation with a long running industrial dispute that the previous Government had taken no steps to resolve. We hold Northern, c2c and Greater Anglia to account for their performance through a variety of contractual measures (including the quality of service, punctuality and how they are managing customer satisfaction). Train performance data can be found on the ORR website and satisfaction data is published by Transport Focus at the following websites: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/ https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/insight/rail-passenger-scorecard/
Media and Sport, if she will place in the Library a copy of the declaration of interests made by Mr David Kogan in his application for the role of independent football regulator chair.
Mr Kogan’s declaration of interests was provided to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee prior to his pre-appointment scrutiny hearing in May. The Committee published this alongside their report, which endorsed his appointment.
Media and Sport, what discussions the Permanent Secretary to her Department has had with Mr David Kogan on his donations to the Labour Party.
The Independent Football Regulator Chair process has been run in accordance with the Governance Code on appointments, including the declaration of significant political activity at application and interview.
Whether (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) water in the (i) 10 and (ii) 11 Downing Street residences are individually metered.
The No. 10 Downing Street and No. 11 Downing Street residences are not individually metered for any listed utility.
Whether the guidance entitled Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance has been updated since 4 July 2024; and whether any other further guidance related to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion expenditure has been published since that date.
The controls outlined in the Civil Service Equality Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance which was published on 14 May 2024 remain in place and no additional guidance has been published since then.
Which business units in 10 Downing Street use the AI Redbox tool; and whether submissions to the Prime Minister are written using AI tools.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer of 23 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 24138
How much his Department has spent on services provided by Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024; and for what purposes.
The Department has not spent any money with Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024, nor does it have a contract for services with them.
Whether civil servants who defer taking their Civil Service pension after the normal retirement age for that pension receive (a) a higher pension and (b) an actuarial enhancement; whether any unclaimed pension from normal retirement age is subsequently payable as a lump sum when the person retires and claims the pension; how the policy varies by Civil Service pension type; and what approach is applied to people who have more than one type of Civil Service pension.
Civil servants may have benefits under several schemes, depending on their length of service. There are four closed (or legacy) schemes (Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos) The fifth scheme (alpha) is the only defined benefit scheme open to civil servants at this time.Civil Servants who defer taking their Civil Service pension after normal retirement age for the pension from which they are claiming benefits would receive:Classic, Classic Plus & Premium Pension schemes: This group does not receive a higher pension or actuarial enhancement. Pension will be backpaid to normal retirement age without interest added.Nuvos and alpha Pension schemes: This group would receive actuarial enhancement for late payment and this would apply to any lump sums taken at the time.For Civil servants who are members of more than one scheme, each pension is dealt with separately and in line with the scheme rules.
Whether his Department plans to establish the new Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement as an arm’s length body.
The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination. As part of this, we will establish an Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit.In April, we launched a call for evidence on a number of areas of equality policy, including this commitment. We will consider the views from the call for evidence to understand the challenges and find the appropriate solutions to equal pay enforcement.We are holding this call for evidence (which closes on 30 June 2025) while policy is at a formative stage in order to enable businesses, trade unions, civil society and others to share their knowledge and experiences. Officials in the Office for Equality and Opportunity will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders as this policy develops.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answers of 28 April 2025 and 4 December 2024 to Questions 47334 and 16604 on DCMS: Art Works and 11 Downing Street: Artworks, if she will publish the Government Art Collection (a) reference number and (b) title for each item (i) installed and (ii) deinstalled from her Department since 4 July 2024.
I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2025 to Question UIN 47334.