Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the effective oversight of science and technology investment for projects that involve the interest of several different Government Departments.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The government remains committed to ensuring effective oversight of science and technology investment across departments.
Individual departments remain responsible for their own science and technology budgets. Following the transfer of science and innovation responsibilities to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the government continues to ensure effective cross-government oversight through existing cross-departmental governance arrangements for science and technology, bringing departments together to align investments, share evidence and identify opportunities for collaboration on shared priorities.
The Department will continue to work with Ministers, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, the CSA network, HMT and senior R&D officials across Government to maintain a strategic view of science and technology investment across Government, and help ensure that science and technology investment delivers maximum benefit for the UK.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the role played by [i] Leicestershire and [ii] East Midlands in the fostering of scientific expertise and knowledge to [a] advance the UK's reputation for scientific research and [b] contribute to regional economic growth.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Innovation is central to delivering good growth in every part of the UK. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invested £596 million in the East Midlands in 2023/24, including £172 million in Leicestershire, Rutland & Northamptonshire.
Up to £20 million has been allocated to the East Midlands through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, supporting manufacturers to scale up clean energy and advanced production technologies.
Government is also backing Midlands Mindforge, the investment company dedicated to supporting university spin-outs in the Midlands, helping unlock an initial £30 million of capital.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment has he made about trends in the use of AI to misrepresent products to consumers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring that consumers can shop online with confidence and that businesses using AI do so in compliance with consumer protection legislation. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions, and strengthens the CMA’s enforcement powers with the ability to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover for businesses that are found to breach consumer law.
The CMA has also recently published guidance for businesses using agentic AI on complying with consumer law, making clear that businesses remain responsible for the outputs of AI systems they deploy.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will have discussions with hairdressing and beauty industry representatives on the potential impact of increasing levels of sector-based self-employment on the ability for employees to afford pension provision.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the important contribution that hairdressing and beauty businesses make to the UK economy and local communities. We regularly engage with representatives from the sector through established forums, including the Personal Care Sector Roundtable, which I chair. These discussions provide an opportunity to hear directly from businesses and representative bodies on a range of issues affecting the sector, including workforce and employment matters.
Last year the Government revived the Pensions Commission to examine how to improve retirement outcomes for future generations, especially for those groups at the greatest risk of under-saving, including the self-employed. Its interim report, published on 19 May 2026, sets out the key challenges with the current system and priorities for its next phase of work. The Government looks forward to receiving the Commission's final report and recommendations in early 2027.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Science and Technologies Facilities Council about the impact of [i] increasing energy costs and [ii] changing foreign exchange rates due to the STFC's subscriptions to international projects.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I met with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair, Professor Michele Dougherty, in August to discuss the council’s strategic programmes and infrastructure investments. UK Research and Innovation undertook a comprehensive, evidence-based prioritisation exercise to address rising operational costs while maintaining a financially sustainable portfolio. The reprioritisation has come as a result of increased cost pressures from energy, inflation, foreign exchange, staffing costs and an expanded portfolio of activity. STFC has set out a plan to live within its budget while protecting the capabilities that matter most to the UK’s long-term scientific and international standing.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Science and Technologies Facilities Council on the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding for e-Merlin at the Jodrell Bank on the UK's reputation for radio astronomy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I met with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair, Professor Michele Dougherty, in August to discuss the council’s strategic programmes and infrastructure investments. Current funding for e-MERLIN remains in place until 31 March 2028, allowing for a managed transition for the research community. To maintain the UK's long-term capability in radio astronomy, the Government continues to prioritise investment in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, with £327 million committed between 2021 and 2030. Jodrell Bank will continue to host the international SKAO headquarters, supporting global scientific collaboration.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to WPQ 17716 answered on 17 July 2026 about Artificial Intelligence: West Midlands, what recent estimate he has made of the number of workers receiving essential AI skills in [i] Leicestershire and [ii] the East Midlands.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government is determined to ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence are felt in every part of the country, including Leicestershire and the wider East Midlands. Through AI Skills Boost we are providing free AI training for all, with over 1.7 million AI training courses delivered across the UK since June 2025. We remain committed to equipping 10 million workers across the UK with AI skills by 2030 and making the UK the fastest adopting AI country in the G7. This national upskilling offer is available to all to workers and businesses across the East Midlands.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to WPQ 17716 answered on 17 July 2026 about Artificial Intelligence: West Midlands, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of progress in meeting the commitments of the AI Action Plan in [i] Leicestershire and [ii] the East Midlands.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out UK-wide commitments rather than for individual regions. That plan is delivering. By January 2026, we met 38 of the Action Plan’s 50 commitments, driving AI adoption, progress across public services and the foundations for economic growth. A dashboard setting out progress is here.
This is giving people the skills to thrive in an AI-enabled economy, modernising public services, and building the economic foundations for long-term growth. Communities, public services and businesses in Leicestershire, the East Midlands and across the UK can continue to benefit from this Government delivering on the Action Plan.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to support UK science interests and investment abroad.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This Government remains committed to driving UK science interests and investment through our international engagement. My department will continue to support research and innovation partnerships with priority countries, maintain the UK’s participation in major international collaborations, and promote opportunities through the Science and Technology Network. International engagement will help deliver the Industrial Strategy, attract global talent and inward investment, and ensure that UK science and technology contribute to long-term economic growth, prosperity and national security.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Rolls Royce regarding the (a) progress of the Ultrafan project in the UK and (b) potential opportunities for a commercial Ultrafan Engine to be built in the UK.
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 Government recognises that a successful Rolls-Royce entry into the single aisle aircraft market could deliver significant UK economic benefits, including high value jobs and growth across the aerospace supply chain.
Rolls-Royce is a major UK employer and longstanding Government partner. We are discussing how any support could secure UK jobs, skills and long-term manufacturing, while delivering value for money for taxpayers. Building on the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, which has anchored world leading R&D in the UK and strengthened the domestic supply chain, any future support would be structured to maximise UK benefits.