Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 111456, what mechanisms are available to airports to meet surface access environmental targets.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In order to meet surface access environmental targets, airport operators and their local stakeholders are responsible for determining the specific interventions that are best-suited to their unique operational contexts taking into account local infrastructure, planning considerations and obligations, and regional transport policies.
The Government welcomes the significant investments airports are making in sustainable surface transport options for staff and passengers, from zero-emission bus fleets to improved cycling facilities, which are vital to balancing aviation sector growth with our environmental commitments.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 120043 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Official Cars, whether she will provide a hyperlink to the Department’s Travel and Subsistence policy.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The travel and subsistence policy is an internal DCMS document which is currently under review by the department. Officials will follow the general principles for travel section of the policy attached.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to end the PSO route to Cornwall on the economy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The decision not to proceed with the Public Service Obligation (PSO) was a matter for Cornwall Council. The Department continues to work with Cornwall Council to explore commercial options for the route. It is important to note that connectivity continues to be preserved with flights operating between Newquay to London Stansted with additional services to London Gatwick being introduced in June.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been implemented by his Department as a result of operational lessons identified from the war in Ukraine, including (a) force structure and procurement priorities, (b) stockpiling and supply chain resilience for munitions and equipment and (c) integration of new technologies into frontline capability, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK's Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster 'learn and adapt' cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine and tactics. More broadly, the Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by the UK to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme is strengthening the resilience of our supply chain, and the Strategic Defence Review also confirmed that we will invest in "Always On" munitions production for our most critical ammunition types, and Ukraine lessons have been incorporated as we assess munitions choices across the force. The Strategic Defence Review also highlighted the importance of autonomous systems within the UK's Integrated Force. Decisions on our equipment requirements, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on overseas marriages.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120645 on Competition and Markets Authority: Costs, whether the Competition and Markets Authority holds internal management information on the resource or cost associated with its Sustainability Taskforce.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) holds internal management information on the resource and costs associated with its Sustainability Taskforce since its establishment:
FY | Staff Costs | Non-Staff Costs | Total Cost | Full-Time Equivalent |
2023-24 | £418,715.01 | £3,335.36 | £422,050.37 | 5.4 |
2024-25 | £342,306.01 | £677.18 | £342,983.19 | 3.9 |
Non-staff costs cover other programme expenditure such as travel and subsistence. The CMA is not able to provide an estimated annual cost for the Sustainability Taskforce for 2025/26 before its accounts for the financial year are finalised.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 19 November and 27 November 2025 to Questions 90730 and 93372 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether her Department issued guidance on the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not issued guidance regarding the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers, published on 7 January 2026, what would be the minimum legal age at which an individual could practically (a) drive on a road with a learner’s ‘L’ plate, (b) drive on a road with a Restricted ‘R’ plate and (c) drive on a road with a full driving license.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The minimum legal age at which an individual can take a driving test is 17 (or 16 in specific circumstances where an exemption applies). The same minimum legal age applies for individuals starting to learn to drive on public roads with an approved driving instructor or an eligible supervising driver.
The time it takes to progress through learning, testing and licensing depends on the individual and how long it takes them to develop the necessary skills and competences. To improve safety, we are consulting on introducing a minimum learning period in Great Britain (GB), to make sure learner drivers get the necessary time and training to prepare themselves for a lifetime of driving. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers.
Should we introduce a mandatory minimum learning period for learner drivers following the consultation, the current minimum legal age requirements for driving would not change.
Northern Ireland requires that Restricted ‘R’ plates are displayed for 12 months from the date of passing a driving test, but Restricted ‘R’ plates are not required in GB. Optional Probationary ‘P’ plates may be displayed in GB to signal to other drivers that the driver is a new driver, but they are not mandatory.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120007 on High Speed 2 Line: Finance, whether reductions in the specified top speed of High Speed Two trains are being considered as part of efforts to align the programme with the Spending Review settlement.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No. The Spending Review settlement for the current period is not dependent on the consideration of the top speed of HS2.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has had discussions with garage owners on the potential impact of the cost of taking EV cars to have their pay per mile mileage checked for eVED on motorists.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, to create a fair tax system whilst also taking steps to ensure that driving an electric vehicle (EV) remains an attractive choice for consumers.
The Government published a consultation which set out further detail on how eVED will work and sought views on its design and implementation. This included a commitment to engage with garages on the costs of mileage checks and MOT fees.
As part of the consultation process, the government has undertaken a programme of engagement involving a range of stakeholders, including garages, and is committed to continuing to engage closely on the implementation of eVED in the lead up to April 2028.
The consultation closed on 18 March 2026. The government is considering responses and will publish a response in due course.