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 10 March 2026 to Question 118041 on Airports: Cars, whether her Department provides guidance to airports on the development, content, and monitoring of Surface Access Strategies.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The expectations around the development and monitoring of airports’ surface access plans were first set out in the Department’s “Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies” in 1999. It is for the airport operator, working with local stakeholders through its Airport Transport Forum to create the strategy, taking into consideration national and local policy guidance and frameworks, planning conditions and local infrastructure considerations.
Recent approvals by this government on airport expansion projects at Gatwick and Luton also highlight specific surface access targets which must be met such as through the Green Controlled Growth Framework at Luton and mode share targets at Gatwick.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120645 on Competition and Markets Authority: Costs, whether the Competition and Markets Authority holds internal management information on the resource or cost associated with its Sustainability Taskforce.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) holds internal management information on the resource and costs associated with its Sustainability Taskforce since its establishment:
FY | Staff Costs | Non-Staff Costs | Total Cost | Full-Time Equivalent |
2023-24 | £418,715.01 | £3,335.36 | £422,050.37 | 5.4 |
2024-25 | £342,306.01 | £677.18 | £342,983.19 | 3.9 |
Non-staff costs cover other programme expenditure such as travel and subsistence. The CMA is not able to provide an estimated annual cost for the Sustainability Taskforce for 2025/26 before its accounts for the financial year are finalised.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been implemented by his Department as a result of operational lessons identified from the war in Ukraine, including (a) force structure and procurement priorities, (b) stockpiling and supply chain resilience for munitions and equipment and (c) integration of new technologies into frontline capability, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK's Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster 'learn and adapt' cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine and tactics. More broadly, the Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by the UK to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme is strengthening the resilience of our supply chain, and the Strategic Defence Review also confirmed that we will invest in "Always On" munitions production for our most critical ammunition types, and Ukraine lessons have been incorporated as we assess munitions choices across the force. The Strategic Defence Review also highlighted the importance of autonomous systems within the UK's Integrated Force. Decisions on our equipment requirements, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 120043 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Official Cars, whether she will provide a hyperlink to the Department’s Travel and Subsistence policy.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The travel and subsistence policy is an internal DCMS document which is currently under review by the department. Officials will follow the general principles for travel section of the policy attached.
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 16 February 2026 to Question 111456, what mechanisms are available to airports to meet surface access environmental targets.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In order to meet surface access environmental targets, airport operators and their local stakeholders are responsible for determining the specific interventions that are best-suited to their unique operational contexts taking into account local infrastructure, planning considerations and obligations, and regional transport policies.
The Government welcomes the significant investments airports are making in sustainable surface transport options for staff and passengers, from zero-emission bus fleets to improved cycling facilities, which are vital to balancing aviation sector growth with our environmental commitments.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to end the PSO route to Cornwall on the economy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The decision not to proceed with the Public Service Obligation (PSO) was a matter for Cornwall Council. The Department continues to work with Cornwall Council to explore commercial options for the route. It is important to note that connectivity continues to be preserved with flights operating between Newquay to London Stansted with additional services to London Gatwick being introduced in June.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on overseas marriages.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential remits of (a) stopping the production of number plates with raised lettering (b) amending the BS AU 145f standards for number plates to make (i) clone plates and (ii) ghost plates more difficult to procure.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is part of the British Standards Institution (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates, BS AU 145e. The proposed amendments to the British Standard include measures intended to prevent raised or ‘ghost’ characteristics, requiring finished plates to be flat.
The BSI’s consultation closed on 13 December 2025 and responses are being considered. Any updates will be communicated by the BSI.
The Government published its Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. The consultation can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-motoring-offences and is open until 11 May 2026.
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 Answers of 19 November and 27 November 2025 to Questions 90730 and 93372 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether her Department issued guidance on the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not issued guidance regarding the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service.
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 held discussions with representatives from the motorbike industry on the Motor Insurance Taskforce Final Report prior to its publication.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The taskforce secretariat met regularly with interested parties, including consumer groups and industry representatives. However, the taskforce did not meet with motorcyclist stakeholders specifically.