Written questions by Morgan.

Whether future NHS planning guidance will require ICBs to provide specialist rehabilitation and care for patients with spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury services in England are commissioned against the national service specification, which is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/service-spec-spinal-cord-injury-services-all-ages.pdfThe specification sets out the mandated standards all commissioned providers are required to meet for patients. The specification provides detailed information on the pathway of care for spinal cord injury patients, including coordination with interdependent services.All providers are required to submit outcome data to the specialised services quality dashboard, with data available at the following link:https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.england.nhs.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F06%2Fspecialised-services-quality-dashboards-metrics-metadata-2025-2026-v24.0.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINKThis data enables the monitoring of quality of care, including clinical outcomes, equitability of access and structure, and process measures. The data is linked to the national spinal cord injury registry, which provides audit data.The specific content of future National Health Service planning guidance will be determined and published in due course, but progress has been made on improving spinal cord injury services following the 2016 review through, for example, the development of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services, which is driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with NHS trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from.More recently, in October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published new guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, which includes rehabilitation for spinal cord injury.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of requests for specialist care which will be refused due to the requirement for GPs to use the Advice and Guidance system from 1 April 2026.

The purpose of Advice and Guidance (A&G) is not to refuse care but to ensure patients are seen in the right place, first time.Where the outcome of A&G is that care management in primary or community settings is in the patient’s best interests, it is expected that patients will receive timelier care, benefiting from earlier specialist input. In these cases, the general practitioner may still subsequently refer their patient again at any point if they have concerns.Management data shows between April 2025 and November 2025, there were 2,210,443 processed A&G requests where a specialist has returned the advice, and 1,095,172, or 45.7% of total requests, have been diverted, where the outcome of A&G is that a referral is not required.

When he plans to respond to Questions 113872, 113873, 113874 and 113875 of 13 February 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2026 to Question 113872.

When he plans to respond to Question 109849 of 29 January 2026.

A response has been issued here.

When he plans to respond to Questions 113248, 113249 and 113250, tabled on 12 February 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 March 2026 to Question 113248.

What steps his Department has taken to address regional disparities in accessing spinal cord injury services.

People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.

What assessment he has made of the potential clinical impact of (a) current waiting times and (b) levels of coordination in spinal cord injury care.

People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of support available to people with spinal cord injury in a) North Shropshire and b) England.

People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the United Kingdom. MCSI provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation and lifelong follow up care for spinal cord injury patients.Nationally, spinal cord injury services form part of prescribed specialised services, with NHS England maintaining national service standards, specifications, and clinical policies. From 2025, elements of specialised commissioning were delegated to integrated care boards to support more integrated pathways, while overall accountability remains with NHS England.In March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for spinal services is also driving service improvements and better care for patients with spinal cord injuries. GIRFT has worked with National Health Service trusts to showcase examples of best practice which other services can then learn from, thereby aiming to reduce regional variation in the quality of care patients with spinal cord injuries receive.

What financial penalties have been applied to (a) MyCSP and (b) Capita on the management of the Civil Service Pension Scheme to date.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery.For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication to ensure members receive the support they deserve. While the immediate focus remains on stabilising the service through this intensive recovery plan, we are committed to ensuring all staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.Furthermore, Capita remains subject to all service level agreements (SLAs) within the contract, which includes system access and timely payments. We are applying contractual levers available to us to deal with performance failures, and we continue to explore all commercial avenues to hold them to account for the quality of their delivery. For example, existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita’s performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (2 March 2026) is available at this weblink: (latest update 16 March): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-16-march-2026MyCSP ceased as the administrator of the scheme in December 2025 upon transfer to Capita. I can confirm that MyCSP were also subject to SLAs and the full mechanism for service credits for performance failures were applied when required.

What steps he has taken to ensure that members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme with outstanding cases are informed of the latest developments regarding the management of the scheme.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication to ensure members receive the support they deserve. While the immediate focus remains on stabilising the service through this intensive recovery plan, we are committed to ensuring all staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. We are applying contractual levers available to us to deal with performance failures, and we continue to explore all commercial avenues to hold them to account for the quality of their delivery. For example, existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita’s performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.Capitas contact centre has seen a significant increase in successful member interactions, achieving a 99% answer rate on 4 and 5 March. This increased accessibility ensures that members can engage with the service as the team continues to prioritise and read through the email queues.This improved member contact is backed by a focus on critical cases. All death-in-service and ill-health retirement cases have been addressed, and over 6,000 inherited lump sum payments were cleared by 8 March. Progress updates have been shared internally via Angela MacDonald’s sprint updates and externally through GOV.UK and the Civil Service Pensions website. The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (16 March 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-16-march-2026

What steps she is taking to support small haulage companies with fuel costs.

The Government is taking action to ensure that fuel at the pump remains affordable. At Budget 2025, the Government extended the 5p-per-litre cut for a further five months, until the end of August this year. The Government has also cancelled the increase in line with inflation for 2026/27; instead, rates will only gradually return to early 2022 levels by March 2027. The 5p cut was introduced at following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when prices reached a peak of over £1.90 per litre.The Government's action on fuel duty will save the average heavy goods vehicle more than £800 in 2026/27 compared to the plans inherited from the previous government. This follows an extended period where freezes to fuel duty have resulted in substantial savings for the haulage industry.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of UK Research and Innovation research grant cuts on early career researchers in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics.

The Government is investing a record £86 billion in R&D between 2026/27 and 2029/30, with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivering £38.6 billion across the UK. UKRI’s “applicant-led” budgets will increase from £737 million this year to £815 million in 2026/27 and £866 million in 2029/30.The Government recognises the central role that physics plays in driving economic growth, underpinning emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum and semiconductors, nuclear fusion and many others as well as sustaining the UK’s long-term scientific and industrial capability.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its final allocations are informed by consultation with the research community, as well as robust assessment of potential impacts on the UK’s scientific capability. Physics is well funded and there have been big increases for quantum and nuclear. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is part of UKRI, is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its specific portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear (PPAN). No final spending decisions relating to STFC’s PPAN portfolio have been made, and the impacts of different modelled scenarios will be considered alongside feedback from the sector before taking any final decisions.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of UK Research and Innovation provision on the future of UK research in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics.

The Government is investing a record £86 billion in R&D between 2026/27 and 2029/30, with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivering £38.6 billion across the UK. UKRI’s “applicant-led” budgets will increase from £737 million this year to £815 million in 2026/27 and £866 million in 2029/30.The Government recognises the central role that physics plays in driving economic growth, underpinning emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum and semiconductors, nuclear fusion and many others as well as sustaining the UK’s long-term scientific and industrial capability.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its final allocations are informed by consultation with the research community, as well as robust assessment of potential impacts on the UK’s scientific capability. Physics is well funded and there have been big increases for quantum and nuclear. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is part of UKRI, is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its specific portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear (PPAN). No final spending decisions relating to STFC’s PPAN portfolio have been made, and the impacts of different modelled scenarios will be considered alongside feedback from the sector before taking any final decisions.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to maintain and support astrophysics research projects at centres such as the research institute at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The Government is investing a record £86 billion in R&D between 2026/27 and 2029/30, with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivering £38.6 billion across the UK. UKRI’s “applicant-led” budgets will increase from £737 million this year to £815 million in 2026/27 and £866 million in 2029/30.The Government recognises the central role that physics plays in driving economic growth, underpinning emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum and semiconductors, nuclear fusion and many others as well as sustaining the UK’s long-term scientific and industrial capability.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its final allocations are informed by consultation with the research community, as well as robust assessment of potential impacts on the UK’s scientific capability. Physics is well funded and there have been big increases for quantum and nuclear. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is part of UKRI, is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its specific portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear (PPAN). No final spending decisions relating to STFC’s PPAN portfolio have been made, and the impacts of different modelled scenarios will be considered alongside feedback from the sector before taking any final decisions.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of satellite navigation systems used in ambulances in England.

Ambulance vehicles have satellite navigation systems that assist crews to identify the location of the emergency. These are updated regularly to ensure the information within them remains current, and in response to feedback from operational crews and managers who are trained on these systems and have excellent understanding of the areas they serve.

How much his Department has spent on external consultants for the ongoing reorganisation of the NHS since 2024.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NICE Guidance to prevent irreversible sight loss is being met for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued technology appraisal guidance recommending several medicines for use in the treatment of wet age-related macular generation. The National Health Service in England is legally required to fund medicines in line with NICE’s recommendations, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.NICE has also published a clinical guideline that provides comprehensive guidance on best practice in the management of patients with this condition, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng82NICE clinical guidelines are not mandatory, but NHS commissioners are expected to take them fully into account in ensuring that local services meet the needs of their populations.

Whether any of NHS England's responsibilities or functions have been fully transferred to the Department of Health and Social Care since the announcement of NHS England abolition in March 2025.

The Government intends to abolish NHS England by April 2027. NHS England responsibilities and functions will not be transferred into the restructured Department until the passage of the legislation is complete, subject to the will of Parliament. Work is progressing at pace to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the NHS England voluntary redundancy scheme on its ability to deliver its functions.

The NHS England voluntary redundancy scheme was launched in December 2025, with staff able to submit applications. Following closure of the window for applications, there has been a considered and risk-based approvals process to determine whether applications can be approved or not, and if approved, at what point it is appropriate for the individual to exit the organisation and the post to become redundant.Considerations included the impact on business-critical activities and functions, the impact on staff remaining in the organisation, and the likelihood that similar skills would be needed in the future. Local panels were held at the directorate and regional level to consider applications, and there was a national moderation and approval process for the entirety of the scheme. In many cases, exit dates were agreed into 2026/27 to ensure that redesign and mitigations could be put in place ahead of departure.As part of planning for 2026/27, NHS England is undertaking a planning process to ensure that the resources at its disposal are focussed on our key priorities and statutory duties, taking into account staff exits ahead of the financial year, and at quarterly intervals during the year. This process is taking place at an organisational level, as well as within each directorate and region.

What steps he is taking to ensure complex ophthalmology care is provided in a timely fashion.

We have committed to ensuring that 92% of all patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment (RTT) by March 2029. Since the Government came into office, the waiting list for routine appointments, operations, and procedures in England has now been cut by 374,083, and RTT performance has improved by 2.6%. This is despite 33.3 million referrals onto the waiting list.In ophthalmology, the national waiting list stands at 602,163 pathways, with 69.8% of those having waited 18 weeks or less. This marks a 3.7% improvement in RTT performance since the Government came into office.We are committed to expanding the number of surgical hubs, which provide dedicated and protected elective capacity to drive improvement in six specialities, including ophthalmology. We are reducing missed appointments through enhanced two-way communication between hospitals and patients, supported by artificial intelligence prediction tools. We are also expanding the use of remote monitoring and patient-initiated follow up, where appropriate, to offer patients more flexibility over their care.Improved IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of single points of access has also shown its ability to improve the referral and triage of patients and support more care being delivered in the community.