Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated cost for the Ajax 2 package of upgrades.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 June 2026 to Question 9411 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty):
‘Ajax 2’ is not a separate programme, but shorthand for a package of ongoing and planned enhancements to the Ajax family of vehicles. As such, there is no single projected cost for ‘Ajax 2’.
The Ajax programme itself is a £6.3 billion programme to deliver 589 vehicles to the Army, and the approval remains unchanged for the agreed scope of delivery.
I will continue to keep the House informed about developments with Ajax, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm via Written Ministerial Statement.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what standards have been set to measure the safe and ethical use of AI legal assistants during its trial period.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice requires any AI tools to be tested and evaluated for accuracy, bias, fairness and reliability before they are deployed, and their performance is monitored on an ongoing basis. Their use is subject to clear human oversight, with outputs reviewed by a suitably qualified person before being relied upon. Oversight is provided by the department’s senior AI, digital and technical leadership. The trialling of any A.I. legal assistants is yet to commence but will be conducted with appropriate safeguards in place.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the import of unethical fur products to Wales.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare Strategy set out actions which this Government is taking concerning the fur trade and Defra has now brought together a working group on fur, with involvement from both industry experts and those who support restrictions on the trade in fur, to explore concerns and the different ways in which they could be addressed. This Government will continue working closely with Devolved Governments to take coordinated action on animal welfare matters where appropriate.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has considered the potential merits of introducing a more accessible appeals mechanism for coroners’ rulings.
Answered by Catherine Atkinson
The Government believes that coroners’ decisions can be effectively and appropriately challenged by means of the existing mechanisms of judicial review or application for a first or fresh inquest under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988.
As soon as Parliamentary time allows, we will bring forward amendments to section 13 to enable the High Court, in appropriate circumstances, to direct the Record of Inquest to be amended without the need for a fresh inquest. This will provide the court with greater flexibility to ensure that it can fulfil its role as expediently as possible and in a way that best serves the interests of justice.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of replicating Australia’s proposed gambling advertising reforms.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Government engages with international jurisdictions to understand the effectiveness and impact of their regulatory regimes.
We will therefore consider Australia’s proposed gambling advertising reforms, as part of the wider evidence base, when making policy and regulatory decisions.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of prediction markets on young men.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
In order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. We will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets on all consumers including young men and consider further action if needed.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the report 'Strike while AI is hot' by the Institute for Public Policy Research, whether his Department plans to give employees new rights to shape AI's deployment in the workplace.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
New technologies, including AI, have the potential to boost wages, drive up productivity and empower workers, but they may also pose risks. This Government’s plan to make work pay will help bring employment rights legislation into the twenty first century.
The government has committed to ensuring worker voice is at the heart of Britain's digital transition by working with trade unions, workers, employers and experts. We will be launching a public consultation on the use of workplace monitoring technologies to continue this dialogue and ensure workplace technologies benefit everyone.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to the Ajax programme between December 2025 and April 2026.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence paid £97 million in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme between December 2025 and April 2026, to General Dynamics and other Suppliers. I am unable to publish details of the milestones and payment schedules as this may prejudice the Department's commercial interests.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the evidence base that underpins the use of tissue stabilisers - as an alternative to fresh frozen tissue - for whole genome sequencing.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
NHS England has produced national sample handling guidance, including for whole genome sequencing (WGS), of solid tumours to standardise the collection, processing, and transport of tumour samples, helping to maintain DNA quality and support access to precision diagnostics. As part of the guidance, approaches to the handling of fresh tissue have been reviewed, including the use of tissue stabilisers as an alternative to fresh frozen tissue.
The Department has not undertaken a specific, separate assessment of whether reliance on tissue stabilisers could limit access to precision diagnostics, WGS, clinical trials, or research. However, the guidance indicates that the use of tissue stabilisers is intended to support, rather than limit, access to genomic testing, including WGS, by enabling more consistent sample handling pathways across the National Health Service. The aim is to reduce some of the barriers of having to acquire, freeze, and transport the frozen tissue, helping to speed up processes and improve consistency.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote supply-chain resilience.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government recognised the importance of supply chain resilience in both the Trade and Industrial Strategies, which committed to setting up a Supply Chain Centre within DBT. The Centre will review inputs required for our growth industries and national security, consider the impact of future trends on demand, and determine what action may be required to build resilience – such as domestic capability building, diversification or strategic international partnerships. It will work closely with industry to identify the UK’s key risks and dependencies and improve businesses’ access to information, enhancing our ability to tackle risks.