Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list all visits undertaken outside the UK by i.) ministers ii.) officials from her Department or it's arms length bodies, since 4 July 2024; and, for each such visit, to state (a) the number of i.) ministers ii.) officials in attendance at each visit and their grade, and (b) the total cost of the visit.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Information on overseas travel by Ministers is published quarterly and can be accessed by using the following link:
DfT: ministerial travel and meetings - GOV.UK
Information on expenses including for overseas travel by the DfT's senior officials is also published quarterly and can also be found using the following link:
DfT: senior officials’ business expenses, hospitality and meetings - GOV.UK
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made towards commencing section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006; what timetable she has set for introducing mandated driving instruction standards for emergency service drivers; and what recent engagement her Department has had with police, fire and ambulance services on the implementation of these measures.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department is currently developing the package of measures required to implement S19 of the Road Safety Act 2006. This will include mandated driving instruction standards. Police, Fire and Rescue, and NHS Ambulance services are fully engaged at both chief officer level, and with their respective Driver Training Advisory Groups, which have provided expert input into the drafting of the minimum training standards. Further announcements will be made in due course.
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 24 November 2025 to Question 92911 on Driving under the Influence: Drugs, whether the figures for 2024-25 are the budgeted figures after the July 2024 reductions in communications spending.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The figures previously given for the total budgeted spend on publicity for drug driving in 2024-25 reflect the July 2024 reductions in communications spending across government departments.
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 policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether her Department will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on cooperation on maritime security and safety.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Although we have still to agree the detail of any provisions on maritime security and safety with the European Union, we do not anticipate that any such arrangements will require the United Kingdom to make additional financial contributions to the European Union.
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 regulated public appointment, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) - Chair, with application deadline of 22 September 2025, who the Advisory Assessment Independent Panel Member was.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Assessment Independent Panel Member was Jacob Meagher.
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 19 January 2026 to Question 105896, whether equivalent gross efficiency and implementation cost breakdowns have been produced for other components of the Departmental Efficiency Plan, including regulated settlements and corporate initiatives.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As set out in the Departmental Efficiency Plan, the department plans to deliver efficiencies of £663m in 28/29. We do not currently hold a breakdown on how these efficiencies breakdown by gross efficiencies and implementation costs in regulated settlements and corporate initiatives.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the DVSA has proposed any future changes to the driving test centre estate.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no current plans for any future changes to the driving test centre estate.
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 29 January 2026 to Question 107278, what items of hospitality were provided at that reception; and if she will publish the relevant food and drink invoices and procurement contracts.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The items of hospitality provided at the Department for Transport Operator Group’s (DFTO) parliamentary reception on 19 January 2026 were: canapés, tea and coffee, bottled water, and various soft drinks totalling £1,646.99. As this was below the contractual minimum catering spend of £2,365, an additional charge of £718.01 was applied. Room hire, a service charge, a facility fee, and an AV package made up the remainder of the cost published in the Answer to Question 107278.
Relevant documents including invoices and the procurement contract will be published in due course, as set out in Cabinet Office guidance for electronic invoicing and payments under the Procurement Act 2023.
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 19 January 2026 to Question 105895 on National Highways and Network Rail: Finance, what estimate he has made of the net efficiency savings attributable to Network Rail after accounting for the up-front and ongoing costs of the technology and systems investments cited.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The technology and systems investments cited contribute to Network Rail’s £3.9 billion Control Period 7 efficiency target but their costs are not directly comparable, given that the investments confer benefits beyond financial efficiency as well as contributing to Network Rail’s overall delivery of its settlement.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department expects to complete the (a) Manchester Route and Stations, (b) Platforming Scenarios, (c) East of Manchester Connection Scenario Study and (d) Manchester Piccadilly Integrated Study documents; and whether the Department plans to place the documents in the Library.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Northern Powerhouse Rail has been announced as a three-phase programme, with a £45bn (2025 prices) funding cap. The second phase will deliver a new route between Liverpool and Manchester, via Warrington and Manchester Airport.
The Department continues to consider developments to the route which would improve passenger and operational experience. If these are taken forward, a detailed update will be provided as part of seeking necessary consents.