Richard Holden
Conservative - Basildon and Billericay
20 (0.0%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 12th December 2019
Opposition Whip (Commons)
(since November 2024)Shadow Paymaster General
(since November 2024)3 APPG memberships (as of 20 Nov 2024)
Freight and Logistics, Media, Poland19 Former APPG memberships
Apprenticeships, Beer, County, Cricket, Durham University, Gambling Related Harm, Game and Wildlife Conservation, Honour Based Abuse, Housing in the North, Local Democracy, Medomsley Detention Centre, Mortgage Prisoners, Rural Business, Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse, Saudi Arabia, Sixth Form Education, SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) House Builders, Somaliland, Youth EmploymentDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(9 debate interactions)
(6 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(32 debate contributions)
(15 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,926 words contributed)
(1,286 words contributed)
(1,076 words contributed)
(203 words contributed)
Basildon and Billericay Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 121,532 signatures (0.21%)
of 80,122 signatures (0.14%)
of 144,518 signatures (0.14%)
of 111,468 signatures (0.12%)
of 121,532 signatures (0.21%)
of 144,518 signatures (0.14%)
of 142,048 signatures (0.10%)
of 111,468 signatures (0.12%)
Latest EDMs signed by Richard Holden
Pie and Mash (No. 2)
Tabled by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)That this House recognises the need to protect Cockney heritage, including Pie and Mash, a staple dish of Cockneys for nearly 200 years; notes that the Cockney diaspora have moved out of East London to at least 42 constituencies across parts of the East and South East; and supports the …
(Most recent: 25 Nov 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 2
Labour: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Independent: 1
Social Security
Tabled by: Rishi Sunak (Conservative - Richmond and Northallerton)That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.
(Most recent: 10 Sep 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 75
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Richard Holden, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Richard Holden has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Richard Holden has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
3 Bills introduced by Richard Holden
A Bill to prohibit the marriage of first cousins; and for connected purposes.
Friday 17th January 2025
Order Paper number: 29
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)
A Bill to require a seller of a vehicle to record their home address or specified information about a company that owns the vehicle in the vehicle’s registration document; and for connected purposes.
Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Friday 28th March 2025
Order Paper number: 8
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)
A Bill to prohibit virginity testing procedures; to make associated provision about education; and for connected purposes.
2 Bills co-sponsored by Richard Holden
Roadworks (Regulation) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Mark Francois (Con)
Carbon Emissions (Buildings) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Duncan Baker (Con)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)5 Other Department Questions
The ‘Table of Kindred and Affinity’ is part of the Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer can be changed by a Measure from the General Synod of the Church of England, which would come to Parliament for approval in the usual manner. The Church of England has no plans currently to change the text.
The duration of appointments of office holders in the Church of England is governed by statutory provisions. Under section 3 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009, the term of office of a person who holds office under Common Tenure (which includes archbishops, bishops and most other clergy) is terminated:
• on the death of the office holder
• by resignation
• on attaining the mandatory retirement age (subject to any extension)
• where the office ceases to exist
• where the office holder is removed from office under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003
• on the expiry of a fixed term appointment (where applicable)
• under the capability procedures.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2009/1/contents
It is for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to determine what guidance it issues to political parties. Equalities Ministers will have periodic discussions with their Cabinet Office colleagues on matters of mutual policy interest. 'Belief’ is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, meaning any religious or philosophical belief, rather than political opinion. As such, the issue of guidance on political belief discrimination that purportedly related to the Equality Act’s protected characteristics would be misleading.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Office for Equality and Opportunity’s role in informing Government policy on marriage relates to equality and discrimination, as it is responsible for the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, which include marriage and civil partnership.
While the Office for Equality and Opportunity work with the Ministry of Justice on issues relating to equality, the Ministry of Justice is responsible for marriage law.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Minimal costs were incurred in the rebranding of the Equality Hub to the Office of Equality and Opportunity as it was a renaming exercise rather than a Machinery of Government change. Therefore, there has been no programme or digital expenditure to date and only minimal administrative time by current employees.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This information is not centrally held by the Cabinet Office.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Quarterly transparency data for 1 April to 30 June 2024 was published on 28 November 2024. Quarterly transparency data for 1 July to 30 September 2024 will be published shortly.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Member for Lewisham West and East Dulwich is paid by the Labour Party for her position as party chair. She also serves as the Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office. She does not receive a salary under the provisions of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975, and therefore is not entitled to receive a ministerial pension contribution.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Guidance on ministers’, special advisers’, and senior officials’ transparency returns is published on GOV.UK and includes details of who would be considered senior media figures for these purposes.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Details of the FOI Round Robin process are published on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information.
As with the previous administration, this Government will continue to look into the possibility of producing a regular digest of Round Robin lists.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government will confirm the responsible Minister for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statements the Prime Minister has already made about the former Transport Secretary’s resignation at Prime Minister’s questions on 4 December.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.
Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.
Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.
Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Public authorities throughout the United Kingdom were given an opportunity to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King if they wanted to display it in their building. This was a voluntary scheme to mark the accession of His Majesty The King. The announcement was originally made on 1 April 2023 and the scheme was launched in November that year and closed for applications in August 2024.
As it was a voluntary scheme, there was no obligation for public authorities to apply for a portrait. It would therefore be inappropriate to disclose the list of individual authorities and institutions which did not order a free portrait.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Public authorities throughout the United Kingdom were given an opportunity to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King if they wanted to display it in their building. This was a voluntary scheme to mark the accession of His Majesty The King. The announcement was originally made on 1 April 2023 and the scheme was launched in November that year and closed for applications in August 2024.
As it was a voluntary scheme, there was no obligation for public authorities to apply for a portrait. It would therefore be inappropriate to disclose the list of individual authorities and institutions which did not order a free portrait.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (MoPSA) includes provision for severance payments to ministers and certain office-holders.
The Chancellor announced in July that ahead of the Spending Review she would review eligibility for ministerial severance payments based on time in office, as set out in MoPSA. This review is ongoing.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
From the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024 until the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024, the Cabinet Office has not organised any away days for Senior Civil Servants (SCS). There have been two SCS Leadership Conferences since then, one on 23 July 2024 and another on 10 October 2024.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Departments are responsible for the development of their own workforce policies, subject to the framework of instructions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. This includes the administration of check-off arrangements.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The roles advertised are to support No10 buildings facilities team. They are replacement roles due to vacancies and upcoming retirement, which existed under the previous government – not new roles.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The policy setting out the requirement to publish Government Procurement Card transactions over £500 remains in place. This is available to all government departments on gov.uk at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e8b402686650c18ce2cb541/Procurement_Cards_-_Pan_Government_Policy_V4_06042020.pdf
The policy clearly sets out the standard that departments must publish to, which includes transaction date, transaction reference, merchant name and the amount spent.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government continues to look at ways to make sure the government’s digital communications better reflect the way the public now consumes information online.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Special adviser appointments are published annually.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The lobby is able to take photographs on flights with the Prime Minister when conditions allow.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Sue Gray’s employment as a special adviser ended on 6 October 2024 following her resignation that day.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office does not pay for staff membership fees for any clubs.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government will publish, monthly, a register of ministers’ gifts and hospitality. Work on the new register is progressing and further details will be published in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer of 09 October 2024, Official Report, PQ 5574.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The audit contains the personal information of circa 6,500 communicators across government. Even if the data was anonymised, there is still a risk that individuals could be identified.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Rosa Renewal Project remains on track to complete by March 2025. It is an agile project planned to ensure the resilience of HMG’s existing shared service capability for working on very sensitive information, and managed under the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27 November is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Employment Rights Bill was published in October along with a full Impact Assessment. The government will also publish a new National Procurement Policy Statement that will set how we will ensure that public procurement supports the Government’s missions, drives value for money and delivers social value.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government publishes a wide range of transparency data. Reporting requirements remain in place, with data regularly being published on GOV.UK. The Cabinet Office will publish, monthly, a Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government publishes a wide range of transparency data. Reporting requirements remain in place, with data regularly being published on GOV.UK. The Cabinet Office will publish, monthly, a Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Work on the new register is progressing and further details will be published in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The government has already made significant progress on its missions since July; fixing the foundations of the country and kicking off the first steps to deliver real change. This has included stabilising the economy, the launch of Great British Energy, investing an extra £22bn to build an NHS fit for the future, establishing a new Border Security Command that will smash the gangs and tackle small boat crossings, and an additional £1.8bn to continue the expansion of government-funded childcare and help more parents stay in and return to work.
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The five Missions are focused on delivering outcomes that offer real and tangible benefits to citizens: higher living standards, protection for energy billpayers with secure home-grown energy, safer streets, longer healthier lives, and a renewed confidence that the future will be better for our children.
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 31 October 2024, Official Report, PQ 8943.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Civil Service Commission is operationally independent from the government and is already able to respond to correspondence from parliamentarians as it sees fit.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Details of the special adviser pay award will be detailed in the relevant Annual Report on Special Advisers, published in line with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is longstanding guidance on meetings between ministers and external organisations which is set out in the Ministerial Code. Similar guidance for special advisers is set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Further guidance on ministers’ and special advisers’ transparency returns is published on GOV.UK.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26 November is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27 November is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27 November is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26 November is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Art Collection website lists the artworks on display in Downing Street: https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=&display=artworkonly&search_place=Downing+Street
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
At any point in time, there is likely to be a small number of individuals who have been displaced due to restructures within their business units or, for example, have returned from a loan from another department and their role no longer exists. The exact number changes on a day-to-day basis.
These individuals are attached to the Skills Match Hub but remain in their business units and are managed by their line managers to ensure they continue to receive meaningful work and are appropriately supported, while they work through the redeployment process.
As was the case under the previous administration, any new vacancies in Cabinet Office cannot be advertised until the role has been reviewed first by the Skills Match Hub for a possible match to anyone currently registered. If there are no suitable candidates registered, the vacancy can then be advertised.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)