Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the total cost to the British Business Bank was in 2024–25 of policies, programmes and staffing related to net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability or the green economy, broken down by a) programme expenditure, b) staffing costs and c) consultancy and professional services.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The British Business Bank does not record or allocate its costs based on thematic categories such as net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability or the green economy. Its programme expenditure, staffing costs, and consultancy and professional services are managed and reported with reference to the programme or business line to which they relate, rather than by policy objective.
For this reason, the Bank is not in a position to provide a breakdown of costs for the year 2024–25 in the format requested.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to UK Export Finance was in 2024–25 of policies, programme changes, due-diligence requirements or staffing linked to net zero, climate or sustainability objectives.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Full details of the activities undertaken by UK Export Finance (UKEF) relating to net zero, climate or sustainability objectives can be found in the UK Export Finance Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the portrait of William Shakespeare was removed from the Pillared Room in 10 Downing Street.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time. The portrait was pre-planned to be moved by the Government Art Collection prior to the General Election in July 2024.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her G7 counterparts on (a) the potential impact of the oil price cap on the level of the Russian Federation's revenues to date and (b) the potential merits of reducing the level of the oil price cap; and what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the oil price cap on the Russian Federation's fiscal revenues in each of the last three years.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The implementation of the oil price cap has achieved its joint aims of 1) reducing Russian oil revenues by capping the price at which Russian oil can be transported using G7 maritime services (such as insurance and brokering for example), while also, 2) maintaining global oil flows and limiting market in instability.
This is why the UK, alongside the EU announced our intention to lower the crude oil price cap in July 2025 with Canada, Japan and New Zealand following shortly afterwards.
At 23:01 (GMT) Saturday 31 January 2026 the crude Oil Price Cap will be lowered from $47.60 to $44.10 per barrel. The UK has chosen to mirror the EU's new price to maintain regulatory alignment in targeting Russian revenues and is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine. Remaining aligned with the EU on this matter ensures clarity and ease for UK businesses operating in Europe.
Following the introduction of the oil price cap on crude oil in December 2022, and refined oil products in February 2023, Russian oil export revenues have been significantly reduced. Compared to 2022, the price cap contributed to an approximately 18% fall in Russian oil export revenues in 2023 and 2024, and a 30% decline in 2025. This success, coupled with significantly lower Urals prices, has weakened Putin’s ability to sustain his illegal war in Ukraine.
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 12 January 2026 to Question 101851, if she will publish any information held by her Department in whatever format it is held.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As set out in our answer to question 101851, the Department does not hold the data requested in a readily available form.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of community rail partnerships on local rail services; what funding her Department has allocated to community rail partnerships in this financial year; and what steps her Department is taking to promote and expand community rail activity.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Community Rail delivers projects which bring benefits to local rail through social, environmental, and economic growth. Work carried out by Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) includes projects to establish community hubs in underused station spaces, creation and maintenance of gardens at stations, and supporting all members of the community to travel with confidence, for example by improving station environments to accommodate all members of the community. These projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.
The Department has granted over £800,000 to the Community Rail Network (CRN) via core and project funding in this financial year (FY 2025-2026). The CRN provide access to grants and resources for its members (a mix of CRPs and Station Adoption Groups). Whilst the Department does not directly fund CRPs, financial support is provided directly via the train operating companies.
The Department continues to support the community rail sector, and as we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has received a proposal for a community rail partnership for the C2C rail franchise; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a community rail partnership for C2C services; and what steps she is taking to support the establishment of a community rail partnership for the C2C network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Officials have not yet received a proposal for a community rail partnership from c2c. We understand the operator will be sharing a proposal in 2026/27 and officials will consider how this might best be facilitated.
In terms of merits, Community Rail Partnerships bring benefits to local communities through social, environmental, and economic growth. Projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department's steel strategy will be published.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is developing a Steel Strategy to be published in early 2026 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there.
The strategy will articulate what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure and expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity which is aligned with our Net Zero goals.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to the Competition and Markets Authority was in 2024–25 of work related to net zero, sustainability or climate policy, including staff time, research, guidance and enforcement activity.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The data recorded by the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) enables it to track costs across the projects it undertakes and the functions it performs. However, it is not able from this data to accurately estimate the costs incurred in relation to thematic areas such as net zero, sustainability or climate policy.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how she plans to determine whether appropriate bodies are assigned responsibility for the adoption and long-term maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems under development consent orders for port developments; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost of those requirements for applicants and public bodies.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The proposal for a revised National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) contains extensive guidance on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The final version will be published in coming weeks.