Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with schools on ensuring that financial education for pupils includes (a) the impact of social media on managing money, (b) managing money in the context of accessible credit and (c) different types of (i) credit and (ii) debt.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Financial education forms a compulsory part of the national curriculum for mathematics at key stages 1 to 4, and citizenship at key stages 3 and 4. Together these cover personal budgeting, saving for the future, managing credit and debt, and calculating interest. Statutory relationships, sex and health education and computing lessons equip pupils to be discerning in evaluating digital content, including content they see through social media.
The interim report from the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review noted the consistent call from children and young people and their parents for more focus on the applied knowledge regarding financial education. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using data from Op Fortitude to undertake a review of the supply and demand of single occupancy housing for veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57385.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the 2.5% increase to defence spending on 25 February 2025 will fund the Chagos deal.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the 2.5% increase in Defence spending is accounted for by payments under the UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of trends in levels of Op FORTITUDE caseload and (b) review levels of (i) supply and (ii) demand for single occupancy housing for veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We remain fully committed to ensuring the right support is in place for veterans, including housing support. As of June 2025, Op FORTITUDE has received a cumulative total of over 3,500 referrals and supported over 900 veterans into housing. The Government has committed £500,000 to supporting Op FORTITUDE's operation this financial year.
We have also funded an evaluation of Op FORTITUDE and the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, which has been commissioned by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The Government is taking steps to increase affordable housebuilding, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 41721 on 3 April 2025.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the need for food labelling which allows people with medical needs to effectively monitor their condition.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All food sold on the UK must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way. Information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food. The United Kingdom maintains high standards on the information provided on food labelling to ensure consumer confidence.
Defra works with other government departments, including both the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to provide consumers with information to assist with medical needs and ensure that food safety standards are maintained.
This includes improving the provision of information for people with allergies and working with food businesses to increase allergen training in the sector. The FSA’s programme on food hypersensitivity is focused on policy, research and evidence to support enforcement and engaging with consumers and businesses.
It is mandatory for food and drinks packaging to include a Nutrition Declaration on the back-of-food packaging. At a minimum, this must include information on energy plus the amounts of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. It can also provide information on other nutrients on a voluntary basis including other fats and vitamins and minerals. This label will help individuals with medical conditions, who need to manage their diets.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the food and drink sector on food labelling in advance of the consultation on that issue.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department is engaging with a range of key food and drink stakeholders as part of the development of the food strategy. We will provide further information by the summer.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with councils on the potential release of land previously allocated to the eastern leg of HS2 (Phase 2b).
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is thoroughly reviewing the position we have inherited on HS2 Phase 2b East, before setting out more detailed plans in the near future, including futureplans for HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding and a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required. We expect to be able to provide further detail of our intended approach for Phase 2b safeguarding during the summer. Any land acquired for Phase 2 that is no longer required will be sold in line with Treasury rules through a disposal programme.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will release land previously allocated to the eastern leg of HS2 (Phase 2b) for local needs.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is thoroughly reviewing the position we have inherited on HS2 Phase 2b East, before setting out more detailed plans in the near future, including futureplans for HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding and a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required. We expect to be able to provide further detail of our intended approach for Phase 2b safeguarding during the summer. Any land acquired for Phase 2 that is no longer required will be sold in line with Treasury rules through a disposal programme.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reconvene the Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce and looks forward to receiving its findings and recommendations.