Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling has been undertaken on the potential impact of diverting traffic from the M6 onto local roads, including the A685, during the proposed closure of junction 38.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Current traffic management proposals for the M6 Lune Gorge project are being designed to keep traffic on the M6 motorway for the majority of the project. A contraflow system is planned on the M6 to provide a safe working area for construction, while maintaining sufficient lane capacity to avoid significant disruption to drivers.
There will need to be a limited number of full closures of the M6 overnight and at weekends. During these closures, traffic will be diverted onto the local road network using the A6, A591 and A590. This diversion route has been agreed with the relevant local highway authorities as the most suitable option.
National Highways’ current proposals for traffic management arrangements at Junction 38 would keep the junction partially open with traffic diverted via the M6 to the next junction and then back. National Highways is still considering options proposed by stakeholders, including temporary slip roads at junction 38 and other traffic mitigations.
National Highways does not intend to use the A685 as a diversion route. The decision to defer Lawtland House Bridge works, which the A685 runs over, was made to provide additional connectivity to the local community during the Lune Gorge project.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic, (b) traffic and (c) community impacts of the proposed closure of M6 junction 38 during the Lune Gorge bridge replacement works.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways’ current traffic management proposals would keep Junction 38 of M6 partially open, apart from a limited number of full weekend and overnight closures. For the majority of the works, slip road closures would be phased, with traffic diverted via the M6 to the next junction and then back. While disruptive, they would be required to carry out the bridge replacement works safely. National Highways is still considering options proposed by stakeholders, including temporary slip roads at junction 38, and other traffic mitigations.
Traffic impacts on diversion routes are being assessed through live surveys with Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority.
National Highways has undertaken over 60 engagement sessions since 2023 to understand the impact on the local community and businesses. As the project progresses towards construction in Spring 2027, the construction methodology and traffic management plans will be finalised. This work will determine what mitigation measures are both necessary and feasible to deliver the scheme safely.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations will be launched; and what her planned timetable is for its conclusion and response.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare strategy sets out Government priorities until 2030. Policies will be delivered throughout this time. Next steps on the consultation will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to the HMT policy paper, "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published on 17 March 2025, whether the Food Standard Agency’s commitment to meet EU regulatory requirements for food grade recycled plastic a deregulatory policy; and in what respect do such EU requirements apply to (a) Great Britain and (b) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) commitment to support United Kingdom businesses in meeting European Union regulatory requirements for food-grade recycled plastics is not a deregulatory policy. It reflects a facilitative and proportionate approach that supports economic growth and international trade while maintaining high standards of food safety.
Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU requirements for food grade recycled plastics do not apply directly in Great Britain as domestic law. However, they apply in practice where UK operators choose to place recycled plastic food contact materials, or food packaged in such materials, on the EU market. In Northern Ireland, relevant EU food contact materials legislation continues to apply under the Windsor Framework, including the EU rules on recycled plastic food contact materials.
The EU regulation on recycled plastic food contact materials requires specified “national authority” functions to be carried out. These functions are obligatory to support Northern Ireland-based operators in achieving full compliance with EU law. The FSA, together with Food Standards Scotland, has committed to act as the competent authority for food grade recycled plastic in respect of UK operators, enabling Northern Ireland obligations to be met and supporting Great Britain-based operators where they choose to access the EU market.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Downing Street press release of 9 April 2025, on policing, what definition the Prime Minister’s office uses of the term 'across the country' in official communications.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
An official definition does not exist, but it is a term that will be widely recognised by the public.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information her Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on overseas marriages.
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 the East West Rail route, a) how many train movements have taken place on that route in the last 12 months; and b) how many of those movements were i) steam-hauled trains, ii) diesel passenger trains, iii) electric passenger trains, and iv) other non-passenger or testing services.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Along the East West Rail route, from 5th April 2025 - 4th April 2026 there have been 2257 train movements. This includes 4 stream trains and 60 diesel passenger trains. 2193 other non-passenger or testing services have taken place, including freight trains.
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 31 March 2026 to Question 123167 on British Transport Police: Finance, whether the cost of the British Transport Police has been included in the Government’s cost estimates for rail nationalisation; and what estimate her Department has made of the annual cost of funding the British Transport Police under a fully nationalised rail system.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police’s budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority, who are the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. They have already agreed a budget settlement with the Force up to 2028/29, increasing by 15% from £418.5m in 2025/26 to £481.5m in 2028/29.
We anticipate that the level of funding following this will similarly balance the needs of the industry and the force against public sector affordability.
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 25 March 2026 to Question 121409 on Parking: Private Sector, when did the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency last review the £2.50 fee charged for the release of vehicle keeper data; what the outcome of that review was; and when the next scheduled review of that fee will take place.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The £2.50 fee for the release of vehicle keeper data is currently being reviewed. If there are any changes made to the fee as a result of that review, these will be communicated at the appropriate time.
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 adequacy of the supply of coaches that are compliant with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 for use in rail replacement services after the expiry of the current exemption on 31 July 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (AIR) require the provision of audible and visible route and location information on board most local bus and coach services in Great Britain. Local services subject to the Regulations must comply with them by October 2026, and we expect operators to ensure this happens on time.
The government understands and recognises the specific challenges to comply with AIR within the rail replacement sector. We continue to work with partners, including the Rail Delivery Group, DfT Operator Limited and bus and coach trade bodies, to assess the sector’s readiness for full compliance across the whole rail network, and to provide support to help them achieve this. This includes the development of new technological solutions for providing information on board coaches, funding for smaller operators, alongside the existing time-limited exemption from the technical requirements of AIR, which is due to end on 31 July 2026. The exemption was put in place to ensure that rail passengers could still complete their journeys whilst rail replacement operators equip their fleets to comply with the Regulations.