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National Cancer Plan 2026-02-05
05 February 2026
Lead MP
Ashley Dalton
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSTaxationEmployment
Other Contributors: 41
At a Glance
Ashley Dalton raised concerns about national cancer plan 2026-02-05 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government's national cancer plan aims to save 320,000 more lives by 2035. The plan includes modernising the NHS, harnessing science and technology, prioritising clinical trials, early detection through liquid biopsy tests, AI in diagnostics, genomics for precision medicine, better use of data, fighting inequalities, prevention through the NHS app, community care via the neighbourhood health service, special focus on rare cancers, improved experience for children and young people with cancer including funding travel costs, research prioritization for children's cancer. The plan aims to turn cancer into a chronic condition that is treatable and manageable.
Welcomes the national cancer plan but questions the Government on clear delivery milestones, funded timelines, accountability measures, investment in diagnostics and technology, radiotherapy capacity expansion including equipment replacement and workforce development.
We started delivery even before we had finished writing this plan; we have put £200 million directly into cancer via cancer alliances, recruited 2,500 more GPs, invested in radiotherapy machines and are rolling out lung cancer screening... We are delivering the biggest investment in hospices in a generation.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
I welcome this plan and the efforts of my hon. Friend the Minister and right hon. Friend the Secretary of State... I will just raise one credit and one request to go a bit further.
Epsom and Ewell
I thank the Minister for advance sight of the statement... Will the Minister confirm that the plan’s annual summary of progress will be reported in the House for Members to scrutinise?
Ashley Dalton
Con
Stockton South
Supported action on UV prevention and under-age sunbed use. Promised to tackle dangerous sunbed use and promote preventive skincare in the sun. Highlighted prostate cancer drug abiraterone expansion for early treatment access.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Asked about encouraging PSA tests every year for men over 50, advocating for yearly general blood tests irrespective of national screening programmes to improve survival rates through early detection.
Calder Valley
Highlighted the need for cancer treatment and care to fit around people’s lives, emphasising patient-centred approaches in personalized cancer treatment plans.
Maldon
Asked about additional help to Mid and South Essex NHS trust to recruit staff and meet waiting time targets set by the Government for cancer care.
Peter Prinsley
Lab
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Emphasised the need for clinical academics in cancer trials, noting a crisis in recruitment, retention, and funding of clinical academics.
South Cambridgeshire
Discussed late-stage pancreatic cancer diagnosis and advocated for proactive early diagnosis measures such as annual screening for high-risk individuals to improve five-year survival rates.
Rachael Maskell
Lab/Co-op
York Central
Highlighted the importance of holistic care in cancer treatment and prevention, particularly focusing on public health interventions and resource allocation for low socioeconomic communities.
Pam Cox
Lab
Colchester
Welcomes the national cancer plan and highlights local innovations such as prehabilitation services. Asks for a visit to local services by the Minister.
Reaffirms commitment to the national cancer plan, supports local innovations, expresses willingness to visit local services, discusses breast cancer screening initiatives including BRAID and EDITH trials.
Will Forster
LD
Woking
Promotes Walk the Walk charity for raising awareness of 'mannogram' testing and extending mammogram testing to under-40s and over-70s.
Harpreet Uppal
Lab
Huddersfield
Acknowledges work on the national cancer plan, highlights best practices in Huddersfield for meeting cancer waiting times and training diagnostic radiographers.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Welcomes the plan and asks about minimally invasive cancer therapies to reduce postcode lottery issues.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Questions geographic differences in cancer treatment, highlights challenges faced by constituents due to multiple hospital trusts.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Asks about procurement strategy for medical radioisotopes and co-operation with the Welsh Government on Project ARTHUR.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
Congratulates Minister, mentions successful campaign for travel fund for children and young people with cancer, seeks assurance to increase stem cell donation from ethnically diverse communities.
Clive Jones
LD
Wokingham
Acknowledges the plan but questions if additional funding is sufficient to meet workforce expansion needs and targets in the plan.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Pays tribute to cancer campaigners from his constituency, seeks assurance that resources will be put into communities to tackle health disparities and ensure equitable cancer care access.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Welcomes the plan, asks for reassurance on equitable national coverage despite poor hospital performance in rural areas compared to previous government's policies.
Tessa Munt
LD
Wells and Mendip Hills
Welcomes the statement and plan, salutes the Minister’s bravery.
My Constituent
N/A
N/A
Constituents do not get a good deal: 47% meet radiotherapy target, 62% drugs, and 73% surgery. Combination of treatments crucial to survival; waiting six months for second treatment is poor. Minister should consider measuring secondary treatments.
Ashley Dalton
Con
N/A
Acknowledges the need for better metrics to improve outcomes. Confirms the national cancer plan will ensure an extra 320,000 people have their lives saved or are living well with cancer by the end of the plan.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Welcomes the national cancer plan and pays tribute to Auntie Hillary who passed away due to delayed diagnosis. Asks Minister to confirm that direction and investment will ensure hundreds of thousands more families celebrate all-clears.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Welcomes the national cancer plan, particularly on early diagnosis and ending postcode inequality. Concerned about limited funding impacting progress; asks Minister to ensure adequate funding is allocated and to engage with Cancer Research UK.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Commemorates his mother who died of lung cancer 17 years ago. Asks Minister about rolling out AI for faster diagnosis to prevent more families from losing loved ones to the disease.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Welcomes the national cancer plan and highlights disparity within constituencies in Birmingham Perry Barr. Asks what will be done about the 64 radiotherapy machines running over their lifespan, costing the NHS 87,000 appointments.
Lewis Atkinson
Lab
Sunderland Central
Commends Minister's focus on unacceptable variation in NHS performance against waiting times. Asks about the variation in waiting times by tumour site: 82% of skin cancers vs 58% gynaecological cancers treated within 62 days.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Thanks Minister for her announcement but highlights the lack of a cancer plan in Wales. Emphasises that without urgent action, inequalities and long waiting times will continue in Wales.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Highlights challenges faced by those living in towns or small cities like Carlisle regarding access to cancer treatment compared with big cities. Asks Minister how the plan combined with training doctors at Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will fix these inequalities.
Chris Murray
Lab
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Welcomes Minister’s statement, highlighting that cancer mortality is higher in Britain compared to other European countries. Asks what the plan does to bring Britain more in line with Europe so people do not need to go abroad for treatment.
Sarah Smith
Lab
Hyndburn
Congratulates Minister on ambitious and needed cancer plan. Mentions meeting with Lorraine who lost her daughter Milly and set up a charity offering welcome packs to families arriving at hospitals across the country.
West Dunbartonshire
Congratulates Minister on excellent plan. Asks about improving survival rates for cancers with extremely low survival, such as acute myeloid leukaemia which has a 22% five-year survival rate.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Inquires about the role charities and voluntary organisations like Maggie’s will play alongside NHS in delivering improved care for cancer patients and their families.
Health Minister
not specified in text
Launched the national cancer plan, emphasising collaboration with charities and community organisations. The plan aims to increase early diagnoses by improving screening methods like FIT tests.
Amber Valley
Expressed gratitude for the cancer plan and highlighted personal experience of losing a mother to bowel cancer in 1989. Encouraged early diagnosis and requested assurances on screening and early detection for bowel cancer.
Responded positively, stating that NHS bowel cancer screening has been extended to those aged 50 and will improve the sensitivity of the FIT test by 2028. This is expected to save almost 6,000 lives.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Expressed appreciation for the Minister's passion and acknowledged support for his Rare Cancers Bill. Inquired about recording rare cancers separately and the influence of the cancer board over plan delivery. Mentioned local organisation House of Hope led by Lisa Fleming.
Commended Dr Scott Arthur's work on the Rare Cancers Bill and confirmed that the plan includes a chapter on rare cancers with an appointed clinical lead to ensure proper counting and registration. Offered to visit House of Hope in Edinburgh.
Government Response
The Minister's statement detailed a comprehensive national cancer plan with significant commitments to improve early diagnosis, treatment times, clinical trials setup, targeted lung screening roll-out, modern service delivery through technology and innovation. The Government aims to save 320,000 more lives by 2035, transforming cancer from one of the biggest killers into a chronic condition. We started delivery even before we had finished writing this plan; we have put £200 million directly into cancer via cancer alliances... We are delivering the biggest investment in hospices in a generation. Committed to reducing under-age sunbed use, promoting preventive skincare, expanding access to prostate cancer drug abiraterone, encouraging yearly PSA tests and general blood tests for men over 50, improving early detection through personalized risk factors via the NHS app, and tackling harmful alcohol consumption by introducing new mandatory health warnings on alcohol labels. Reaffirms commitment to the national cancer plan, supports local innovations, expresses willingness to visit local services, discusses breast cancer screening initiatives including BRAID and EDITH trials. Acknowledges need for better metrics, confirms plan aims to save or improve lives of an extra 320,000 people. Supports rolling out lung cancer screening by 2030 using AI to speed up diagnosis and catch cancers earlier. Invests in radiotherapy machines and operational capital through spending review. Will continue working with Wales for equity of access. Expands access to community diagnostic centres, recruits more specialists for rural areas. Learns from other countries on new innovative treatments. Acknowledges need for different measures to assess less stageable cancers like leukaemia. Supports improved non-clinical and supportive care. Launched the national cancer plan, emphasised collaboration with charities and community organisations, increased sensitivity of FIT test by 2028, and appointed a clinical lead for rare cancers.
Shadow Response
Stuart Andrew Conservative
Shadow Response
The Opposition questions the plan’s delivery and funding specifics. Emphasises the need for clear milestones, timelines, accountability measures, investment in diagnostics and technology, radiotherapy capacity expansion including equipment replacement and workforce development.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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