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)5 APPG memberships (as of 12 Feb 2025)
Freedom of Speech, Freight and Logistics, Media, Poland, Self-Driving Vehicles19 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)
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(7 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(37 debate contributions)
(17 debate contributions)
(15 debate contributions)
(11 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,926 words contributed)
(1,286 words contributed)
(1,076 words contributed)
(364 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 218,840 signatures (0.22%)
of 218,866 signatures (0.22%)
of 50,477 signatures (0.21%)
of 128,716 signatures (0.21%)
of 218,840 signatures (0.22%)
of 218,866 signatures (0.22%)
of 166,703 signatures (0.17%)
of 128,716 signatures (0.21%)
c. 25,392 added daily
3,062,464
(Estimated)
Call a General Election
Sign this petition Gov Responded - 6 Dec 2024 Debated on - 6 Jan 2025 View Richard Holden's petition debate contributionscloses in 2 months, 3 weeks
I would like there to be another General Election.
I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election.
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
1 Adjournment Debate led by Richard Holden
3 Bills introduced by Richard Holden
A Bill to prohibit the marriage of first cousins; and for connected purposes.
Friday 7th March 2025
Order Paper number: 33
(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)9 Other Department Questions
The Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.
The scope of the PSED is set out in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act). It extends to all public authorities listed in Schedule 19 of the Act and all parties carrying out public functions. This includes private sector and voluntary organisations when carrying out public functions.
The government expects regulators to ensure organisations comply with their legal requirements. It is not the role of regulators to intervene where legal requirements do not apply and we have no evidence that this is occurring.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Registration requirements are set out in the Code of Conduct together with the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022. (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083.pdf)
Paragraph 5 of the Code provides that new Members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and Members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days. Gifts, donations or hospitality are registrable from the day of receipt (whether or not subsequently repaid). The 28-day period is provided to enable time for registration for the purpose of transparency.
Members are encouraged to seek advice from the Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests if they are in any doubt about whether a proposed course of action is in line with the rules.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance and codes of practice covering philosophical belief. What is and is not a political belief as opposed to a philosophical belief is a question that is for individuals to consider and, if necessary, the courts to determine, if raised in the context of Equality Act 2010 protections.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society. It makes it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity.
The Act also makes it unlawful for recruiters to hire by race, where the person is to be paid under a contract for services. Under certain conditions, a recruiter choosing between candidates of equal merit can hire the candidate from the more disadvantaged or lower-participating race or ethnicity. This is one type of ‘positive action’. Positive action can deliver better outcomes for particular groups in order to overcome or minimise a disadvantage arising from a protected characteristic.
In April 2023, the previous government published guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination. The guidance is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. Section 9 of this guidance explains the general positive action provision. Section 10.2 explains tie-breaking in more detail. With this considered, there are currently no plans to issue further guidance to public bodies on positive action.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
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)
The security of our people, assets and information is a Government priority.
The Vetting Transformation Programme (VTP) was first announced in October 2020. The programme was subject of a number of reviews and audits under the previous administration, including by the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) and Cabinet Office Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Hub. These reviews concluded that there were weaknesses in governance and stakeholder engagement. As a result, the programme was closed in September 2024.
In its place, this Government is undertaking a range of initiatives to modernise and improve vetting services, delivered through three core workstreams:
1. Rationalising Policy and Process - Government Security Group (GSG) and UK Security Vetting are working with departments to standardise and centralise decision making.
2. Enhancing Digital and Cyber Security - UKSV are currently in the process of migrating the National Security Vetting System (NSVS) platform to the cloud to enhance the reliability of the current service and bring capabilities in line with industry best practice.
3. Increasing Assurance - GSG and UKSV are moving to an approach of continuous improvement across the assurance offered by vetting investigations.
In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The policy on collation of data for senior civil service appointments across government remains the same as when the Rt Hon member was in Cabinet Office.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Details of ministers’ and senior officials’ official meetings with external individuals and organisations, including with social media organisations, are already published on a quarterly basis.
Data for the period of July to September 2024 was published by departments on the 30th January 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Ministerial offices are routinely refurbished after Parliament is dissolved and generally before new ministers are appointed or occupy their offices. There are mirrors located in several offices across the Cabinet Office. New standing mirrors - costing £37 each - were located in offices now occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the House of Commons, the Minister without Portfolio, and the two Parliamentary Secretaries in Cabinet Office. The coasters purchased for ministerial private offices cost £7.99 per set.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office has no record of any civil servants in the Department being disciplined in the latest 12 month period for plagiarism or making false statements on a CV when applying for a job.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Approval is required from the Civil Service Commission for any appointment by exception at SCS2 or above. A list of such appointments by exception (SCS2 and above) are published and updated regularly on the Commission’s website. Aggregated data is published on details of appointments by exception below SCS2 grade. There has been no change to these arrangements since the Rt Hon member was a minister in the department.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
All risks in the National Risk Register, which is the public-facing version of the internal, classified National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As a Civil Service Department, the Cabinet Office’s policy in this area is aligned with the Government People Group’s Civil Service model policy. As such, the Cabinet Office policy will be revised in due course to reflect planned updates to the model policy and guidance, which is currently under review.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As was the case under the previous administration, the relevant interests of non-executive board members and public appointments will continue to be updated and published bi-annually as part of an established process as set out in the Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process - GOV.UK. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process)
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Special advisers are employees of their appointing minister's department and as such have the same legal rights as other employees.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
All travel using the HMG wet-leased A321 aircraft (known as GBNI) is fully offset. This is done at the end of the financial year to correctly reflect the emissions.
The Cabinet Office utilises the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework with EDF to offset these emissions.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
We are committed to the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and fulfilling our international obligations. Disputes are a normal part of a mature relationship with international partners. It is not appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Department for Business and Trade is currently working through the approval process to establish the Industrial Strategy Council as an Arm’s Length Body.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office does not hold a central list of where sponsoring departments publish information regarding public bodies reviews and efficiency savings.
Sponsoring departments determine the format, contents, and publishing location of this information.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The latest public sector trade union facility time data for the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 has been published on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/public-sector-trade-union-facility-time-data)
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Commission’s Recruitment Principles allow for specific time-limited ‘Exceptions’ to the legal requirement to recruit on merit on the basis of a fair and open competition.
Appointment by exception must be either to meet the needs of the government or to enable the Civil Service to participate in a government employment initiative. In such instances, ministers are important stakeholders in the appointment process.
Ministers can also, with agreement from the Civil Service Commission, bring in experts and specialist talent without competition - for up to two years – to meet an urgent business need.
In most cases, departments determine the case for an Exception themselves. The Civil Service Commission audits departmental use of exceptions as part of its audit programme.
The Commission’s approval is however required for:
Any appointment by Exception at Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2
Any extension or variation of any fixed-term appointment previously agreed by the Commission at Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2 or above
The use of an Exception within 12 months of an earlier Exception for the same individual
Any fixed-term appointment by Exception in excess of two years
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Transparency data for Ministers, Special Advisers and Senior Officials, including for the period of 1 July to 30 September 2024, was published on GOV.UK on 30 January 2025.
This data was published alongside the new monthly Register of Ministers' gifts and hospitality, which can be found at the following address - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The interests of non-executive board members and public appointments will continue to be updated and published bi-annually as part of an established process as set out in the Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process - GOV.UK.
All financial interests and all remunerated outside employment, work, memberships and appointments should be declared. Disclosure requirements and clear conflict of interest policies are detailed in the guidance to support the department in managing any conflicts of interest. These include recusal from relevant matters, limitations on any gifts, transparent lobbying practices and robust mechanisms for ethics enforcement within government.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The updated pay ranges for Special Advisers will be published in the next Annual Report on Special Advisers, which will include the changes referenced in answer to Question 24650.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There were 15 separate Fast Stream schemes in 2024. The information requested is publicly available within the Fast Stream Annual Report 2024 linked below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-fast-stream-recruitment-data-2024
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The name was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As has been the case under successive administrations, the Prime Minister allocates official residences to ministers, either on the grounds of security or to allow them to better perform their official duties.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
No standing guidance is issued to Ministers on this specific issue, as was the case under the previous administration. The appropriate use of public resources is a matter for the relevant Accounting Officer and their individual ministers.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The review into Equality, Diversity and Equality (EDI) expenditure carried under the previous administration did not include the Armed Forces.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Alongside the wider work of the Special Adviser People Board, it met on 17 October 2024 and was attended by Morgan McSweeney.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of ministers’ private interests, which ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
More information about the process by which ministers declare interests and the categories of interests declared is available in the List of Ministers’ Interests, which 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 4th February 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 4th February is attached.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The approach remains the same as that of previous Prime Ministers.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer of 18 December 2024, Official Report, PQ 21060. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-18/21060
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Many of the items sold in the 10 Downing Street gift shop are made in the UK. A very small number of items, such as water bottles from a well known British supplier, are made globally, including in China. This was the case under the previous government.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Historical data on communication and marketing spend is listed by department on the Government efficiency, transparency and accountability page on GOV.uk.
The Government Communications Service is expecting to save £85 million in 2024-25 from reducing unnecessary communications spend.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As was the case when the Rt Hon member was a Minister in the department, correspondence from Members of Parliament addressed to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards can be submitted to the Cabinet Office using the contact details available in the following link:
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It is a long-established precedent that internal government correspondence is not normally shared publicly, therefore we will not publish the letter. However, we continue to press Departments on their responsibility on these matters.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
There have been a total of 10 all-staff calls during this period.
The number of staff attending these calls were:
2552
2332
1926
2078
1885
1916
1702
3903
2725
3003
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Honorable Gentleman to the answer to PQ 25696, answered on 30th January 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Secondments are part of a range of ways of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and have been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and must follow the processes as set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. Under the Plan for Change, the Cabinet Office is drawing together multi-disciplinary teams across the country including front line public service workers, policy officials and those with digital and data skills to pioneer public service reform.This includes one secondee from the London Borough of Camden.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 30 January in response to PQ 26089.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As is a longstanding practice under successive administrations, Civil Service or legal advice on appointments is treated in confidence.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Art Collection lists artwork under the search term 'Downing Street' here: https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=downing+street&display=artworkonly
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)