Written questions by Cartlidge.

What proportion of the planned £29 billion annual increase in the NHS budget over the next three years will be allocated to children’s palliative care services.

Palliative care services, including for children, are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, must commission.To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment.The Department and NHS England are looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required changes to palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the £26 million NHS England Children’s Hospice Grant for meeting the costs faced by children’s hospices in South Suffolk.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.  We cannot yet confirm what the funding for 2026/27 will be, or how it will be administered.The Department and NHS England are looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required changes to palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

Whether he plans to undertake a comprehensive review of the (a) planning, (b) commissioning and (c) funding of children’s palliative care in South Suffolk.

Palliative care services, including for children, are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, must commission.To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment.The Department and NHS England are looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required changes to palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

Whether he plans to extend the NHS England Children’s Hospice Grant beyond the 2025-26 financial year.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs), including the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.  We cannot yet confirm what the funding for 2026/27 will be, or how it will be administered.The Department and NHS England are looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required changes to palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

How much money attributed to the Single Intelligence Account was included in UK NATO qualifying defence expenditure in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24.

In line with all other NATO members, it is UK Government policy that we do not release individual elements of our NATO return publicly.

With reference to the letter from the Right Hon. Member for Liverpool Garston to the Hon. Member for South Suffolk dated 29 July 2025, how much of the stated NATO-qualifying expenditure will be spent on the implementation of the UK – EU Security and Defence Partnership.

The Department’s spending plans will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn. The share of this spending that relates to individual categories of spend will be considered as part of future returns to NATO.

With reference to the letter from the Right Hon. Member for Liverpool Garston to the Hon. Member for South Suffolk dated 29 July 2025, how much of the stated NATO-qualifying expenditure will be spent on the sustained investment for (a) maintenance and (b) security upgrades across the overseas estate.

The Department’s spending plans will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn. The share of this spending that relates to individual categories of spend will be considered as part of future returns to NATO.

With reference to the letter from the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry to the hon. Member for South Suffolk of 29 July 2025, how much of the stated NATO-qualifying expenditure will be spent on strategic stability in the (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29 financial years.

The Department’s spending plans will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn. The share of this spending that relates to individual categories of spend will be considered as part of future returns to NATO.

With reference to the letter from the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry to the hon. Member for South Suffolk of 29 July 2025, how much of the stated NATO-qualifying expenditure will be spent on hybrid threat responses in the (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29 financial years.

The Department’s spending plans will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn. The share of this spending that relates to individual categories of spend will be considered as part of future returns to NATO.

With reference to the letter from the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry to the hon. Member for South Suffolk of 29 July 2025, how much of the stated NATO-qualifying expenditure will be spent on supporting modern deterrence in the (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29 financial years.

The Department’s spending plans will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in the autumn. The share of this spending that relates to individual categories of spend will be considered as part of future returns to NATO.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 633, whether the annual increase in defence spending will include the Single Intelligence Account.

The Prime Minister has been clear about the contribution our intelligence and security services make to the defence of our nation. The commitment to spend 2.6% on defence from 2027 will include all spend relating the Single Intelligence Account.

Whether the Defence Investment Plan will report based on a cost envelope of (a) 2.5%, (b) 3% or (c) 3.5% of GDP on defence expenditure.

The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the MOD will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review within the MOD's share of the Government's commitment to spending 2.6% of GDP on defence by 2027, and 3% of GDP in the next Parliament as fiscal and economic conditions allow.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote growth in the UK sugar beet industry.

The Government is committed to supporting and promoting growth in the UK sugar beet industry, including in South Suffolk. For example: we are funding research into crop resilience and sustainable practices through the Farming Innovation Programme. The Government continues to work with industry stakeholders to ensure fair market conditions and is monitoring challenges faced by the industry.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the sugar beet industry in South Suffolk constituency.

The Government is committed to supporting and promoting growth in the UK sugar beet industry, including in South Suffolk. For example: we are funding research into crop resilience and sustainable practices through the Farming Innovation Programme. The Government continues to work with industry stakeholders to ensure fair market conditions and is monitoring challenges faced by the industry.

With reference to recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he plans to make any amendments to the Single Source Contract Regulations regarding the delivery of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

In accordance with recommendation 33b (Nuclear Industry Flexibility - Ensuring it has the flexibility to incentivise industry investment in infrastructure and asset management) of the Strategic Defence Review, the Department will be conducting a review of the Single Source Contracting Regulations (SSCRs). The review will commence by the end of September 2025 and will conclude within the current financial year in readiness for any necessary legislative changes following ministerial and parliamentary approval.

With reference to recommendation 34 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the successor to the Dreadnought class submarine since 2 June 2025.

This Government is fully committed to the United Kingdom’s independent nuclear deterrent, underpinned by our triple lock commitment to continue to build the four new Dreadnought Class submarines, maintain our continuous at sea deterrent and deliver all the required upgrades, including the replacement warhead. The Government has accepted all of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations. We routinely hold discussions on possible future national security and defence capabilities with our industry and international partners.

Whether the Defence Investment Plan will report based on a cost envelope in relation to (a) his Department's budget or (b) NATO qualifying defence expenditure.

The Defence Investment Plan will set out the Department's spending plans to deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review against its forecast budget. This will be based on the Department's Spending Review settlement, and the MOD's projected share of the Government's ambition to spending 3% of GDP on defence in the next Parliament as and when fiscal and economic conditions allow.

With reference to recommendation 26 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what discussions his Department has held with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on plans to expand community-based Cadet Forces by 30% by 2030.

The campaign to increase the Cadet Forces by 30% by 2030 (’30 by 30’) is backed by £70 million of extra funding. The diverse and unique nature of the individual Cadet Forces and the federated approach to delivery mean that this funding will be spread across the single Services, Ministry of Defence (MOD) Centre, and supporting organisations. Work is currently underway to establish how the 30% increase will be realised, and costings will be refined through the ongoing Defence Investment Plan process. The recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review covers both school and community-based Cadet Forces across the country. For a number of years, one focus for Cadet growth has been through the ongoing joint Department for Education (DfE)/MOD Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) in schools. The CEP will form a key component of the new ‘30 by 30’ campaign, and our important engagement with DfE on the delivery of this discreet element will continue. We wish to grow Cadets in areas where the need is greatest. The MOD and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are working together to achieve this aim. In addition to our ’30 by 30’ campaign, MOD future growth plans will be aligned with areas with the highest deprivation levels and the weakest social infrastructure, including MHCLG’s Plan for Neighbourhoods programme places.

With reference to recommendation 25 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether any senior appointments who have not completed at least one international posting will be required to do so.

With our through-life career management, we can ensure our people have a broad profile to meet the wide and varied demands Defence requires.All of our senior appointments are selected using the joint assured model to ensure Defence has the right people in the roles at the right time. This method ensures that we are always able to select the very best individual for the role.

With reference to recommendation 25 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether it will be a formal requirement for all senior appointments to have completed at least one international posting.

With our through-life career management, we can ensure our people have a broad profile to meet the wide and varied demands Defence requires.All of our senior appointments are selected using the joint assured model to ensure Defence has the right people in the roles at the right time. This method ensures that we are always able to select the very best individual for the role.