Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer to question 11397, what representations his Department made to the Department for Health and Social Care on the vending machine industry and the proposed ban on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade engaged with the Department of Health and Social Care during the development of proposals relating to the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. As is standard practice, Ministers and officials work closely with counterparts across Government to help inform policy development, including consideration of impacts.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2026 to question 14817, what specific representations his Department made on behalf of the vending industry to the Department for Health and Social Care.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department regularly engages with the Department of Health and Social Care on a range of issues affecting business sectors. This has included consideration of the impacts of policy proposals on businesses and implementation considerations. However, it would not be appropriate to disclose further details of internal Government policy discussions, as doing so could prejudice the effective development of Government policy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Laotian counterpart on the protection of Christian converts and other religious minority communities in that country.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The UK is committed to promoting and defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK has discussed freedom of religion or belief with the Lao authorities through bilateral dialogue, including at the UK-Laos Political Dialogue which took place in London in September 2025. We also work through the UN to promote and protect these rights, including raising country specific issues at the UN Human Rights Council. Laos' UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held in 2025, during which the UK raised concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and religion.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the thematic Value for Money Review of homelessness will include an analysis of value added by charitable and not-for-profit homelessness services which do not currently receive government funding.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Value for Money Review of homelessness will assess the underlying cost-effectiveness of cross government spend that helps to prevent and relieve all forms of homelessness, and will make actionable recommendations that improve efficiency, accountability, outcomes, and reduce financial pressures on councils. As part of the review, we will also seek views from external stakeholders via the Homelessness Expert Group which includes representatives from front-line services, local government, and the third sector.

For further details please see the published Terms of Reference available here.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in each of the past three financial years, how much Housing Benefit has been paid to providers of Supported Accommodation.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Department's Benefit Expenditure and Caseload outturn and forecast tables can be found in the ‘Housing Benefits’ sheet here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2026.

Equivalent estimates are not available for earlier years due to historical data quality issues in the recording of supported accommodation cases.

Found: John Glen: At least he’s honest.

Found: Horley) Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat; Carshalton and Wallington) Jim Dickson (Labour; Dartford) John Glen

Found: John Glen MP.

Found: Horley) Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat; Carshalton and Wallington) Jim Dickson (Labour; Dartford) John Glen