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, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, whether he plans to create new roles within the armed forces that will specifically require an undergraduate drone degree.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is a pilot project that is seeking to fuse civilian and military experience to enhance our collective expertise in uncrewed systems. It is offering twenty places for their new undergraduate drone degree, with 15 places allocated to civilian students and five military personnel, specifically from the Army. The Army will promote the undergraduate drone degree through its routine internal communication channels, while NMITE will lead its own civilian recruitment activity Military personnel who are sponsored by Defence to undertake undergraduate level learning are usually expected to continue serving for the duration of their commitment, so there are no retention specific targets connected to this degree.
All of the career opportunities in the Armed Forces or complimentary organisations will be open to those who complete the NMITE degree. There are also other employment opportunities in Defence including through civil servant employment.
The programme supports the Army’s broader requirement to upskill its workforce in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons from Ukraine. Every unit will require both specialist and generalist personnel able to integrate, adapt and sustain rapidly evolving drone systems. Work is already under way to formalise the role of drone technology specialists across the Army, and the other Services, building on the existing expertise within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Group.
The Army is also reviewing its force structure to ensure it has the right balance of personnel with the technical skills needed to operate effectively in an environment where drones play an increasingly central role. This may include the creation of new roles where such specialist skills are essential.
NMITE intends to expand overall student numbers from the second year. The Army plans to continue sponsoring five personnel on the full three-year programme in each remaining year of the current Parliament, while also increasing participation through shorter modular elements.
In the longer term, there is a vision to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, whether an undergraduate drone degree will guarantee employment in the armed forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is a pilot project that is seeking to fuse civilian and military experience to enhance our collective expertise in uncrewed systems. It is offering twenty places for their new undergraduate drone degree, with 15 places allocated to civilian students and five military personnel, specifically from the Army. The Army will promote the undergraduate drone degree through its routine internal communication channels, while NMITE will lead its own civilian recruitment activity Military personnel who are sponsored by Defence to undertake undergraduate level learning are usually expected to continue serving for the duration of their commitment, so there are no retention specific targets connected to this degree.
All of the career opportunities in the Armed Forces or complimentary organisations will be open to those who complete the NMITE degree. There are also other employment opportunities in Defence including through civil servant employment.
The programme supports the Army’s broader requirement to upskill its workforce in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons from Ukraine. Every unit will require both specialist and generalist personnel able to integrate, adapt and sustain rapidly evolving drone systems. Work is already under way to formalise the role of drone technology specialists across the Army, and the other Services, building on the existing expertise within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Group.
The Army is also reviewing its force structure to ensure it has the right balance of personnel with the technical skills needed to operate effectively in an environment where drones play an increasingly central role. This may include the creation of new roles where such specialist skills are essential.
NMITE intends to expand overall student numbers from the second year. The Army plans to continue sponsoring five personnel on the full three-year programme in each remaining year of the current Parliament, while also increasing participation through shorter modular elements.
In the longer term, there is a vision to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, whether his Department has a target for the number of students per cohort that will remain in the armed forces following the conclusion of the undergraduate drone degree.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is a pilot project that is seeking to fuse civilian and military experience to enhance our collective expertise in uncrewed systems. It is offering twenty places for their new undergraduate drone degree, with 15 places allocated to civilian students and five military personnel, specifically from the Army. The Army will promote the undergraduate drone degree through its routine internal communication channels, while NMITE will lead its own civilian recruitment activity Military personnel who are sponsored by Defence to undertake undergraduate level learning are usually expected to continue serving for the duration of their commitment, so there are no retention specific targets connected to this degree.
All of the career opportunities in the Armed Forces or complimentary organisations will be open to those who complete the NMITE degree. There are also other employment opportunities in Defence including through civil servant employment.
The programme supports the Army’s broader requirement to upskill its workforce in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons from Ukraine. Every unit will require both specialist and generalist personnel able to integrate, adapt and sustain rapidly evolving drone systems. Work is already under way to formalise the role of drone technology specialists across the Army, and the other Services, building on the existing expertise within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Group.
The Army is also reviewing its force structure to ensure it has the right balance of personnel with the technical skills needed to operate effectively in an environment where drones play an increasingly central role. This may include the creation of new roles where such specialist skills are essential.
NMITE intends to expand overall student numbers from the second year. The Army plans to continue sponsoring five personnel on the full three-year programme in each remaining year of the current Parliament, while also increasing participation through shorter modular elements.
In the longer term, there is a vision to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry.