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 1,701–1,720 of 2,902 · this parliament
With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Draft Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), published on 26 August 2025, whether she plans to publish the final RIS3 by March 2026.
As set out in the draft RIS3 document published on 26 August 2025, the Department does indeed intend to publish the final Road Investment Strategy 3 by March 2026.
With reference to her Department’s guidance entitled Lane rental schemes: guidance for English highway authorities, updated on 3 April 2025, whether she has implemented the requirement for highway authorities to spend a minimum of 50% of surplus lane rental funds on repairing potholes.
Following consultation, the Government announced its intention to double fixed penalty notices, extend overrun charges to apply on bank holidays and weekends, and permit highway authorities to allocate 50% of surplus funds from lane rental schemes towards road maintenance. The relevant Statutory Instrument will be laid shortly to enable the necessary changes to come into force, with practical implementation in early 2026, the intervening period will help ensure the industry and Local Highway Authorities have time to adapt and be ready for them.
With reference to the consultation outcome entitled Exchange of car driving licences issued in Moldova, published on 9 July 2025, on what evidential basis the (a) DVLA and (b) DVSA assessed the Moldovan theory and practical driving tests as equivalent to those in Great Britain; and whether any independent safety assessments were conducted.
Current driver licensing and testing standards in Moldova have been assessed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The technical evaluation looks at the following, including: the minimum test vehicle requirements,the duration of the test,any specific requirements,the manoeuvres completed,and the standard of assessment applied. The training and quality assurance arrangements for driving examiners of the applying country are also evaluated, along with the arrangements, content, technical approach and marking system for theory and hazard perception testing.
With reference to the consultation outcome entitled Exchange of car driving licences issued in Moldova, published on 9 July 2025, whether her Department plans to review the 12-month period during which drivers from (a) non-EU and (b) non-EEA countries may drive in Great Britain without exchanging their licence.
My department does not currently have any plans to review the 12-month exchange period during which drivers from non-EU, or non-EEA countries may drive in Great Britain without exchanging their licence.
Whether she plans to review the rules for recognising overseas driving tests as equivalent to those in Great Britain.
My department does not have any current plans to review the rules for recognising overseas driving tests.
With reference to her Department’s guidance entitled Lane rental schemes: guidance for English highway authorities, updated on 3 April 2025, whether she has implemented the proposal to double the level of fixed penalty notice charges for offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
Following consultation, the Government announced its intention to double fixed penalty notices, extend overrun charges to apply on bank holidays and weekends, and permit highway authorities to allocate 50% of surplus funds from lane rental schemes towards road maintenance. The relevant Statutory Instrument will be laid shortly to enable the necessary changes to come into force, with practical implementation in early 2026, the intervening period will help ensure the industry and Local Highway Authorities have time to adapt and be ready for them.
With reference to the Draft Road Investment Strategy 3, published on 26 August 2025, which enhancement projects included in the Draft Road Investment Strategy 2 have been (a) cancelled, (b) paused and (c) descoped; and if she will make an estimate of the costs incurred for each of those schemes.
In any portfolio of this size, there will always be schemes that have feasibility or value for money issues that appear through the course of development, and there will always be a need to spend money on schemes to develop them to a certain stage to make an informed decision on whether to proceed or not. National Highways reported the write-off costs associated with cancelled RIS2 schemes in its Annual Report and Accounts 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 71209 on Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties, if she will make an estimate of the amount of tax that will be raised from Double Cab Pick Up vehicles being taxed as cars in (a) 2025-6, (b) 2026-7, (c) 2027-8, (d) 2028-9 and (e) 2029-30.
The estimated amount of tax that will be raised from double cab pick-up vehicles being treated as cars has been estimated as follows: 2025-262026-272027-282028-292029-30Exchequer Impact (£m)140235270280285As with most tax measures in the Budget the main uncertainties in this costing relate to the size of the tax base and the behavioural response to the measure in the usual way.
Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September to Question 71269 on Train Operating Companies: Conditions of Employment and Trade Unions, whether this information is held by DfT Operator Limited.
DFTO currently has oversight of six Train Operating Companies (TOCs). The TOCs are subsidiaries of DFTO and trade union agreements are negotiated, held and managed at the subsidiary level rather than by DFTO itself. Similarly operating practices on employees rights are also administered and managed by the TOCs rather than DFTO.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71270 on Aviation: Fares, what her Department's policy is on airlines using (a) individualized and (b) surveillance pricing when setting air fares.
The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. The cost of air fares is therefore determined by airlines, but airlines must always be compliant with competition and consumer protection laws when setting fares.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71219 on Lobbying: Official Hospitality, if she will publish the relevant guidance on holding departmental receptions at the offices of consultant lobbying firms.
The Ministerial Code is published on GOV.UK. Guidance from the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is published on the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists’ website.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the BBC Panorama programme The Truth About Baby Food Pouches; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing regulations on (a) front-of-pack labelling, (b) permitted sugar content, and (c) minimum nutritional standards for commercial baby food.
Children’s early years provide an important foundation for their future health and strongly influence many aspects of wellbeing in later life.The BBC Panorama programme highlighted issues with levels of sugar and misleading labelling and nutrition claims in some commercial baby food products. The Government has recently published voluntary industry guidelines for commercial baby food and drink which challenge manufacturers to reduce levels of sugar and salt in their products. The guidelines also set out actions that businesses should take to improve the labelling and marketing of these products. Businesses have 18 months to deliver the required changes, and we will monitor and publish their progress towards achieving this. The guidelines are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-baby-food-and-drink-voluntary-industry-guidelines/commercial-baby-food-and-drink-voluntary-industry-guidelinesWe have regulations in place that set nutritional, compositional and labelling standards for commercial baby food. We continue to keep these regulations under review to ensure that the composition of infant food and drinks reflect the latest scientific advice and dietary guidelines. The voluntary industry baby food guidelines should support improvements in this area.
With reference to her Department's press releases entitled (a) London to Essex c2c services return to public control in step towards Great British Railways, published on 18 July 2025 and (b) New dawn for rail as South Western services return to public hands, published on 25 May 2025, what the rigorous performance standards are that each of the public sector operators will have to meet; when she plans to publish details of those performance standards; and whether those standards are outlined to companies before nationalisation takes place.
The standards will be set out in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps (a) his Department and (b) Natural England are taking to help tackle large-scale illegal waste dumping in ancient woodlands; and if he will review the adequacy of enforcement processes where (i) substantial environmental damage and (ii) tax evasion are suspected.
In the first instance, landowners are responsible for the security and integrity of their property. The ownership of such woodland can often be complex and split across hundreds of individual parcels. The Environment Agency (EA) is the lead authority for investigating large scale illegal deposits of waste. However other partner agencies such as Natural England may also play a role in associated activity for example if tipping occurs within a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Where substantial environmental damage is suspected the EA will work quickly to gather evidence to show a risk of serious pollution to meet the legal requirements for a Restriction Order. Natural England also has a suite of enforcement powers that can address damage to protected sites. The EA hosts the Joint Unit for Waste Crime which brings together the EA, HMRC, National Crime Agency, the police, waste regulators from across the UK and other operational partners to share intelligence and tasking to disrupt and prevent serious organised waste crime. The EA has also launched its Economic Crime Unit which targets the financial motivation behind offending and uses financial mechanisms to inhibit the ability of offenders, including Organised Crime Groups, to operate.
Whether the Government plans to impose VAT at 20% on all private hire fares.
The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses’ need for certainty. The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last year's consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon.
When she plans to publish a response to her Department's consultation entitled Consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles, which closed on 8 August 2024.
The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses’ need for certainty. The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last year's consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon.
Whether her Department produced an impact assessment prior to the Supreme Court judgment in DELTA Merseyside Ltd v Uber Britannia Ltd on the application of VAT to private hire vehicle journeys.
The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses’ need for certainty. The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last year's consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon.
With reference to her Department's consultation entitled Consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles, which closed on 8 August 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of applying 20% VAT to private hire vehicle journeys on vulnerable users.
The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses’ need for certainty. The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last year's consultation on the VAT Treatment of Private Hire Vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon.
What assessment she has made of the level of variation in the time taken to complete private hire vehicle licence applications across local authorities in England.
The Department for Transport’s best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England is clear that all authorities should consider how best to deliver the statutory function of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Providing an efficient licensing system benefits both those in the trade and those wishing to enter it, and passengers through greater choice and availability of services.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of a licensing authority taking an extended period of time to accept or reject a private hire vehicle licence application.
The Department for Transport’s best practice guidance to licensing authorities in England is clear that all authorities should consider how best to deliver the statutory function of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Providing an efficient licensing system benefits both those in the trade and those wishing to enter it, and passengers through greater choice and availability of services.