Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cancer Strategies

Wednesday 23 April 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial responsibility for cancer strategies varies by region in the UK.
  • Healthcare is a devolved matter, with the Scottish Government managing cancer strategies in Scotland.
  • Improving early diagnosis of cancer, including for breast cancer, is a priority for the Government in England.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
NHS Scotland
Context

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Scotland, according to Cancer Research UK. The current situation shows that no NHS board in Scotland is meeting the 62-day cancer waiting time standard.

Question

I thank the Minister for her reply and very kind remarks. As in Wales and England, not a single NHS board in Scotland is meeting the 62-day cancer waiting time standard. That is a legacy of under-investment from the SNP in Scotland, from Labour in Wales, and from the Conservatives in England. To develop change and save lives, we need proper funding for cancer services. How will the Secretary of State for Scotland ensure that his colleagues at the Department of Health and Social Care understand the importance of fully funding cancer strategies to avoid disasters like that devised by the SNP?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I assure the hon. Member that this is a priority for the Government, but as healthcare is a devolved matter, the Scottish Government are responsible for their own cancer strategies, including diagnostic services in Scotland. In England, improving early diagnosis of cancer—including breast cancer—is a priority for the UK Government, who are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including MRI and CT scanners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to ensuring full funding for cancer strategies in Scotland but acknowledged it as a priority.

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Q2 Katrina Murray Lab Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
NHS Scotland
Context

A constituent of the MP, Stephen, was diagnosed with prostate cancer almost by accident while being treated for another condition. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Scotland.

Question

My constituent Stephen found out that he had prostate cancer almost by accident when he was treated for something else. Thankfully, it was diagnosed early and he is on his way to a good outcome. Despite prostate cancer being the most common cancer for men in Scotland, it is not one of the tumour types that has been promoted for early diagnosis in the current Scottish Government cancer strategy. Will the Minister encourage the Scottish Government to make specific reference to prostate cancer when promoting early diagnosis?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I commend my hon. Friend for her commitment to her constituents, and pass on the best wishes of the whole House to Stephen in his recovery. Her constituents, like mine, are constantly on the receiving end of late diagnoses because of the underfunding of cancer services that the hon. Member for Wokingham (Clive Jones) has mentioned. We will, of course, continue to raise this issue with the Scottish Government as part of our ongoing commitment to deal with Scotland’s biggest killer, which is cancer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to encouraging the Scottish Government to include prostate cancer specifically but acknowledged it as an important issue.

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