Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains of each class were operated by Northern as of 3rd November 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of rolling stock maintenance engineers and technicians required in each year to 2035; and what assessment she has made of whether recruitment and training provision will meet that requirement.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold annual estimates of the number of rolling stock maintenance engineers and technicians required in each year to 2035. Great British Railways will develop a new rail sector-wide workforce plan. This provides an opportunity to invest in the future skills and capabilities needed for train maintenance.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what rolling stock procurement programmes awaiting approval by her Department have planned contract award dates before April 2030; and what the anticipated approval date is for each programme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
South Eastern Trains and Northern Trains are currently running procurements for new rolling stock to replace their ageing fleets. As these procurements remain live and commercially sensitive, it is not appropriate to comment on specific timescales for their completion at this time.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings Ministers and officials in her Department have held with representatives of Starship Technologies in each month since July 2024; and what the (a) dates, (b) attendees and (c) subjects of those meetings were.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Since July 2024, Ministers have met representatives of Starship Technologies on two occasions. On 4 November 2024, Lisa Johnson, Vice President of Global Affairs, attended a micromobility sector roundtable led by Minister Lightwood to discuss issues affecting the sector. On 28 October 2025, Minister Lightwood met Lisa Johnson, Vice President of Global Affairs, and Ahti Heinla, Co-founder, CEO, and Chief Technology Officer, to discuss the regulation of pavement delivery robots.
Departmental officials have also met representatives of Starship Technologies on several occasions to discuss the regulation of pavement robots.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, on what date Lisa Johnson of Starship Technologies was appointed to the Robotics Advisory Group; what process was followed in making that appointment; and what assessment was made of potential conflicts of interest arising from her employment.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
DSIT established the Robotics Advisory Group (RAG) to provide the government with independent, expert advice on robotics and autonomous systems policy. The appointments were made following an open "Expressions of Interest" process run by DSIT in late 2025, which invited experts from industry, academia, and trade bodies to apply by submitting a CV and a statement of their expertise directly to the department.
Lisa Johnson was appointed to the group on 15 January 2026 alongside other members. She was appointed following an open expression-of-interest and assessment process, including ministerial approval, in line with what was the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology’s standard governance procedures. Lisa Johnson has declared relevant interests in accordance with the Department’s standard arrangements for members of external advisory groups.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date HM Treasury agreed the use of £54 million of Department for Energy Security and Net Zero underspends to fund the reduction in bus fares announced on 22 July 2026.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The department has set out a full plan for how it will meet savings associated with the Bus Fares cap and Defence Investment Plan – that includes a combination of cuts to some programmes and underspends.
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 estimate of the adequacy of the number of HGV drivers to meet demand during the Christmas 2026 trading period.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not made a specific estimate of the adequacy of the number of HGV drivers to meet demand during the Christmas 2026 trading period.
The department regularly engages with road haulage businesses and trade associations to understand workforce and other issues affecting the sector, including pressures on HGV driver recruitment and retention.
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 2 November 2026 to Question 38365, whether her Department plans to assess the potential impact of industrial and commercial electricity prices on the financial viability of transitioning heavy goods vehicle fleets from diesel to electric power.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The assumptions underpinning the total cost of ownership analysis for zero emission heavy goods vehicles are kept under review as evidence emerges. This includes future energy prices, as appropriate for the various users. Further details will be published alongside the next consultation on the HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support local authorities to resource animal-welfare investigations involving non-licensed premises.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions UIN 39702 and UIN 39701.
The majority of the funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has considered the adequacy of funding levels in animal-welfare enforcement among local-authority areas.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions UIN 39702 and UIN 39701.
The majority of the funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.