Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will conduct focus groups in the East Midlands with individuals who need equality adjustments to share their opinions in a non-written manner on the SEND Reform White Paper.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
On Monday 23 February, we launched a full 12‑week consultation on our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms because we want to hear directly from people across the country who have an interest in these reforms.
To do that, we are building on our national conversation and delivering one of the widest engagement programmes we have ever run, reaching professionals, families, and children and young people to help shape these reforms together.
We are hosting a series of online and in‑person events throughout the 12-week consultation period in every region, including the East Midlands, with some sessions delivered in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children.
The department has a dedicated mailbox for SEND reform consultation responses and is accepting both written and non-written responses to consultation questions. The mailbox is available at: SENDreform.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk.
The consultation, including accessible versions, can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when will he receive the next update from the Fuel Distribution Association about the work of heating oil providers to ensure that customers have flexibility on delivery size.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Energy Minister has been in contact with the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) and continues to work with them and other suppliers to ensure vulnerable households are treated fairly, including in relation to delivery sizes. DESNZ has held regular discussions with UKIFDA to emphasise that members should follow the industry Code of Practice to provide their customers with flexibility on delivery size.
On Monday 16 March the Government announced the intention to regulate the heating oil sector to introduce new customer protections along-side securing agreements with industry to quickly improve customer experience and ensure households are better protected. In this context the Energy Secretary welcomes the Competition and Market Authority’s comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent progress she has made on supporting the development of alternative methodologies to the use of animals in science.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25th November 2025 to Question UIN 91769 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-17/91769
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is the frequency of the updates that he is receiving from the Fuel Distribution Association about challenges in the supply chain of heating oil for [i] domestic and [ii] business customers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is in frequent communication with the UK and Ireland Fuel Distribution Association (UKIFDA) to monitor heating oil supply and pricing. We are aware that some customers are experiencing delays or difficulties in receiving heating oil deliveries; this was due to an increase in demand. This has now reduced, and industry are reporting that demand has returned to the normal level expected for this time of year.
The Prime Minister confirmed £53 million of immediate support for those most exposed to changing heating oil prices on Monday 16 March.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 compatibility of NHS England's policy of mandatory Advice and Guidance and Elective Single Point of Access with NHS England's Patient Choice Guidance published December 2023.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made on the potential impact of changes to Part 2 student loan repayments and the freezing of interest thresholds on the (a) degree and (b) course choices of young people.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Plan 2 loans were designed and implemented by previous governments. Students in England starting degrees under this government have different arrangements. As these loans are not available for prospective students in England, there is no impact on degree and course choices.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Changes to the GP contract in 2026/27, updated on 4 March 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of removing the cap on online requests that can be submitted during core hours on (a) patient safety and (b) GP workload.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of removing the caps on online requests on patient safety and general practice (GP) workload. Data on online consultation submissions is collected, monitored, and published.
This is because there is no change to clinical responsibility, triage processes, or same‑day requirements for clinically urgent care as a result of this clarification. Practices retain flexibility over how requests are prioritised and responded to, including the use of triage models and appropriate response times for non‑urgent requests. Evidence from practices shows that spreading demand more evenly across the day can support smoother workflows and reduce pressure on telephone access, rather than increasing overall workload.
The clarification on online access is being implemented alongside wider GP Contract changes for 2026/27, including £485 million in additional core funding and reforms intended to support practice capacity.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to WPQ 112096 answered on 23 February 2026 about 'VAT Fraud,' what recent discussions he has had with HMRC about trends in the levels of cases of organised criminals accessing VAT accounts using customers' registration details and claiming VAT refunds.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has active investigations into organised crime VAT fraud. However, live case information isn’t routinely published, and disclosing the number of ongoing investigations would risk alerting or enabling those seeking to exploit the tax system.
Further to answer UIN 112096, HMRC have implemented additional controls over recent months to strengthen its systems and ensure access is limited to legitimate customers. As part of this, HMRC has established the Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC), a multi-functional team led by HMRC's Security directorate, focused on the protection, detection and response to identity-related security threats. The FPC also provides enhanced, direct support to customers and manages fraud in line with industry best practice.
HMRC has wide ranging criminal investigation powers, as set out on GOV.UK, and is resourced to investigate serious fraud, deploying compliance and enforcement capability to protect the integrity of the tax system. At Spring Statement 2025, the Government set out plans to expand HMRC's counter-fraud capability, including strengthening its response to organised criminal attacks.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question 112096 on VAT Fraud, how many cases are being investigated by HMRC of organised criminals accessing VAT accounts using genuine customers' registration details and claiming VAT refunds.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has active investigations into organised crime VAT fraud. However, live case information isn’t routinely published, and disclosing the number of ongoing investigations would risk alerting or enabling those seeking to exploit the tax system.
Further to answer UIN 112096, HMRC have implemented additional controls over recent months to strengthen its systems and ensure access is limited to legitimate customers. As part of this, HMRC has established the Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC), a multi-functional team led by HMRC's Security directorate, focused on the protection, detection and response to identity-related security threats. The FPC also provides enhanced, direct support to customers and manages fraud in line with industry best practice.
HMRC has wide ranging criminal investigation powers, as set out on GOV.UK, and is resourced to investigate serious fraud, deploying compliance and enforcement capability to protect the integrity of the tax system. At Spring Statement 2025, the Government set out plans to expand HMRC's counter-fraud capability, including strengthening its response to organised criminal attacks.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of HMRC's (a) investigative powers and (b) human resources to investigate cases of organised criminals accessing VAT accounts using genuine customers' registration details and claiming VAT refunds.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has active investigations into organised crime VAT fraud. However, live case information isn’t routinely published, and disclosing the number of ongoing investigations would risk alerting or enabling those seeking to exploit the tax system.
Further to answer UIN 112096, HMRC have implemented additional controls over recent months to strengthen its systems and ensure access is limited to legitimate customers. As part of this, HMRC has established the Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC), a multi-functional team led by HMRC's Security directorate, focused on the protection, detection and response to identity-related security threats. The FPC also provides enhanced, direct support to customers and manages fraud in line with industry best practice.
HMRC has wide ranging criminal investigation powers, as set out on GOV.UK, and is resourced to investigate serious fraud, deploying compliance and enforcement capability to protect the integrity of the tax system. At Spring Statement 2025, the Government set out plans to expand HMRC's counter-fraud capability, including strengthening its response to organised criminal attacks.