Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role chiropractors could play in reducing the numbers of patients on waiting lists for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for musculoskeletal treatment, wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.
The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, set out the productivity and reform efforts we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard, and to ensure patients have the best possible experience while they wait.
NHS England does not nationally commission chiropractic care as it is a complementary and alternative medicine. Integrated care boards can make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of such treatment.
There are currently no plans to review the categorisation of chiropractic care as a complementary and alternative medicine. Where musculoskeletal treatment is required, referrals will be made to physiotherapists where appropriate.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to resolve the barrier whereby chiropractors cannot work within the NHS because they are not Allied Health Professionals, but Allied Health Professional status requires employment within the NHS.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans by either the Department or NHS England to review the list of health and care professions that are represented by the Chief Allied Health Professions officer.
Where there is demand for services, such as those provided by a chiropractor, integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of such treatment.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for musculoskeletal conditions within the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Spending Review prioritised health, with record investment in the health and social care system. The Government is providing £29 billion more day-to-day funding for the National Health Service in real terms compared to 2023/24, which is the equivalent to a 3% average annual real terms growth rate.
Investment must come with reform, and the 10-Year Health Plan details the change required to secure the financial sustainability of the NHS.
The 10-Year Health Plan will support people, including those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, to better manage their condition and access services and support through the three health shifts.
For example, as part of a major transformation of the NHS under the 10-Year Health Plan, patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to bypass their general practitioners (GPs) and directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management, and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions including arthritis, backpain, and joint pain, while enabling GPs to focus on more complex cases, reducing pressure on hospitals and freeing up GPs.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's investors advisory group has been consulted on funding for the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investors Advisory Group (DIAG) exists to help develop and provide expert advice on the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS).
As part of this work, we are exploring potential new financing options which could apply to specific opportunities identified through the Defence Investment Plan. However, the DIAG is not directly consulting on the funding decisions within the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total cost to his Department of running British Army Training Unit Suffield for (a) the current financial year and (b) each remaining financial years of the current Parliament.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This financial year, we are forecasting to spend around £17 million on the maintenance of the British Army Training Unit Suffield, which we expect to be consistent in future years – and will be finalised in the Defence Investment Plan.
Forecasted costs include:
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a formal target date to create an Integrated Force.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Integrated Force Model as per the Strategic Defence Review has four elements: a single force design; a common set of foundational enablers; digital enablement at its core; and collaboration with other Government Departments in real time. The first element – a single force design – will be delivered through the ongoing work to develop the Defence Investment Plan. The integrated force design will be completed this year, with implementation thereafter. The other three elements will be delivered incrementally as part of continued efforts to modernise and reform Defence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's spending plans are forecasted to lead to an overspend of his Department's budget in the (a) current financial year and (b) next financial year.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department engages in routine budget management to live within our control total. The Department's performance against its control totals for this financial year and the next will be confirmed in the respective Annual Report and Accounts in the usual way.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 70768 on Skynet, when the next Skynet 6 programme review will take place.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The resilience and operational relevance of the planned Skynet 6 capabilities continue to be regularly assessed against projected operational demands and emerging threats. The latest review was as part of the Defence Investment Plan considerations. Timing of future ones will depend on the emergence of improved technology, what adversaries do or any other need to adjust capacity, capability or timing. Where necessary, these will result in adjustments across the entire Ministry of Defence Space enterprise to both ground- and space-based elements, wherever its most advantageous.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September to Question 70768 on Skynet, what were the findings of the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority's November 2025 review into the Skynet 6 programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority had scheduled a review of the Skynet 6 programme for November 2025 as part of routine monitoring of Category A projects. However, a shift to a conditions-based approach, aligning reviews with key programme milestones, has led to the review moving to a yet-to-be-agreed date later in the year. In the meantime, regular communication between the parties continues.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support British SMEs in light of the delay to the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department is working flat out to deliver the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will be published as soon as possible. It is underpinned by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with £270 billion being invested in defence in this Parliament alone.
Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises (SMEs) hold a crucial place in UK defence. They are the backbone of the UK economy and provide the innovation, expertise and agility that the sector needs now and in the future. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy and will be reflected in the DIP.
The new Defence Office for Small Business Growth was established on 26 January 2026. It will provide SMEs with a single point of access for advice, support and opportunities in defence. The office will bring together services from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), trade associations and investors in one place, supporting delivery of our target to increase MOD spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.