Asked by: Baroness Manzoor (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, for each year since 2016, (1) what proportion of births were delivered by caesarean section, and (2) how many women and babies died because a caesarean section was delayed or postponed; what assessment they have made of the reasons for any changes in these figures over time; and what steps they are taking to reduce any risk of a woman being pressured into agreeing to an unnecessary elective caesarean section.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table details what proportion of births were delivered by caesarean section from 2015/16 to 2024/25:
Year | Method of delivery | |
Caesarean elective | Caesarean emergency | |
2015/16 | 11.5% | 15.6% |
2016/17 | 12.1% | 15.7% |
2017/18 | 12.6% | 16.2% |
2018/19 | 13.2% | 16.9% |
2019/20 | 13.7% | 17.5% |
2020/21 | 14.6% | 18.9% |
2021/22 | 15.9% | 20.1% |
2022/23 | 17.4% | 21.9% |
2023/24 | 18.7% | 23.7% |
2024/25 | 20.0% | 25.1% |
The information on how many women and babies died because a caesarean section was delayed or postponed is not held by the Department.
The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit will be examining the evidence to understand the potential reasons for the increasing rate of caesarean birth and the consequences of the changing nature of birth. Women must always be able to make the choice about the type of birth that is right for them, based on clear information about risks and benefits.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what national data are collected on the time taken to inform patients in England of clinically significant diagnostic test results following verification of those results; whether NHS England has issued guidance on the maximum acceptable interval for communicating such results to patients; and what action is taken when delays in communication pose a risk to patient safety.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold this data centrally.
Prompt access to diagnostic test results is a Government priority. Digital imaging reports should be automatically available to patients four weeks after formal verification on the Radiology Information System or equivalent. NHS England’s March 2025 guidance on patient digital notification of diagnostic imaging reports is available on the NHS England website in an online-only format.
National Health Service trust patient safety leads, or integrated care boards where trusts have no dedicated team, are responsible for taking action when communication poses a risk to patient safety.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what governance arrangements have been established to oversee implementation of rare and less common cancer commitments within the national cancer plan for England.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest reported survival outcomes for each of the 14 less common cancers referenced in the National Cancer Plan are currently available in the CONCORD-3 study with more up to date data being released in the CONCORD-4 study, which is due to be published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shortly. The Department will continue to use National Disease Registration Service published survival data to monitor progress on cancer survival in England and will ensure that we are improving outcomes across all tumour types.
We are committed to improving all outcomes, including for the 14 less common cancers referenced, as we continue to implement the commitments set out in the plan. Cancer waiting time performance and early diagnosis data provide good indications on where we are making progress and help to identify low-performing tumour types. Both of these datasets are available publicly.
The reformed National Cancer Board is the senior advisory body and governance structure responsible for tracking the progress of the commitments within the plan. The board will maintain momentum, provide challenge and scrutiny to areas of slow progress, and ensure that implementation translates into meaningful improvements for patients, including rare cancer patients. Dr Robert Metcalf has been appointed as the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers and will be responsible for providing independent challenge and supporting the delivery of the rare cancer commitments within the plan.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the initial priorities are for the role of the new national clinical lead for rare cancers.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest reported survival outcomes for each of the 14 less common cancers referenced in the National Cancer Plan are currently available in the CONCORD-3 study with more up to date data being released in the CONCORD-4 study, which is due to be published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shortly. The Department will continue to use National Disease Registration Service published survival data to monitor progress on cancer survival in England and will ensure that we are improving outcomes across all tumour types.
We are committed to improving all outcomes, including for the 14 less common cancers referenced, as we continue to implement the commitments set out in the plan. Cancer waiting time performance and early diagnosis data provide good indications on where we are making progress and help to identify low-performing tumour types. Both of these datasets are available publicly.
The reformed National Cancer Board is the senior advisory body and governance structure responsible for tracking the progress of the commitments within the plan. The board will maintain momentum, provide challenge and scrutiny to areas of slow progress, and ensure that implementation translates into meaningful improvements for patients, including rare cancer patients. Dr Robert Metcalf has been appointed as the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers and will be responsible for providing independent challenge and supporting the delivery of the rare cancer commitments within the plan.
Asked by: Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 17 July (HL2263), whether they now intend to issue guidance to safeguarding leads in local authorities on how to respond when a parent disagrees with a child or young adult's wish to undergo social or medical transition; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 1 April, NHS England published an updated service specification for NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Services, reflecting the findings and recommendations of the Cass Review. The specification makes clear that clinicians should consider safeguarding needs as part of the holistic assessment framework.
Additionally, on 1 September, the Department for Education published updated statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, which details how schools and colleges should support children and young people who are questioning their gender.
Asked by: Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 17 July (HL2263), what guidance, if any, they plan to issue to safeguarding leads in local authorities about situations where a parent disagrees with a child or young person's desire to undergo social or medical transition.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 1 April, NHS England published an updated service specification for NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Services, reflecting the findings and recommendations of the Cass Review. The specification makes clear that clinicians should consider safeguarding needs as part of the holistic assessment framework.
Additionally, on 1 September, the Department for Education published updated statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, which details how schools and colleges should support children and young people who are questioning their gender.
Asked by: Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress the NHS England has made on implementing recommendation 31 of the Cass review to ensure that professional bodies come together to provide leadership and guidance on the clinical management of the population seeking support through gender clinics.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
This recommendation has been actioned by NHS England by ensuring that there is senior representation on all the committees and working groups that have a role in delivery of the Cass Review recommendations. For example, NHS England has commissioned the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to design the new education and training framework for clinicians working in NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services, with an expert steering group that includes representatives from twelve royal colleges and other professional bodies.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the national cancer plan for England, published in February 2026, what performance metrics are being used to monitor delivery of the commitment to improve outcomes for rare and less common cancers; and what is the latest reported performance against each metric.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest reported survival outcomes for each of the 14 less common cancers referenced in the National Cancer Plan are currently available in the CONCORD-3 study with more up to date data being released in the CONCORD-4 study, which is due to be published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shortly. The Department will continue to use National Disease Registration Service published survival data to monitor progress on cancer survival in England and will ensure that we are improving outcomes across all tumour types.
We are committed to improving all outcomes, including for the 14 less common cancers referenced, as we continue to implement the commitments set out in the plan. Cancer waiting time performance and early diagnosis data provide good indications on where we are making progress and help to identify low-performing tumour types. Both of these datasets are available publicly.
The reformed National Cancer Board is the senior advisory body and governance structure responsible for tracking the progress of the commitments within the plan. The board will maintain momentum, provide challenge and scrutiny to areas of slow progress, and ensure that implementation translates into meaningful improvements for patients, including rare cancer patients. Dr Robert Metcalf has been appointed as the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers and will be responsible for providing independent challenge and supporting the delivery of the rare cancer commitments within the plan.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest reported survival outcomes for each of the 14 less common cancers referenced in the national cancer plan for England; and how those outcomes compare with the baseline used when the national cancer plan for England was published.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest reported survival outcomes for each of the 14 less common cancers referenced in the National Cancer Plan are currently available in the CONCORD-3 study with more up to date data being released in the CONCORD-4 study, which is due to be published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shortly. The Department will continue to use National Disease Registration Service published survival data to monitor progress on cancer survival in England and will ensure that we are improving outcomes across all tumour types.
We are committed to improving all outcomes, including for the 14 less common cancers referenced, as we continue to implement the commitments set out in the plan. Cancer waiting time performance and early diagnosis data provide good indications on where we are making progress and help to identify low-performing tumour types. Both of these datasets are available publicly.
The reformed National Cancer Board is the senior advisory body and governance structure responsible for tracking the progress of the commitments within the plan. The board will maintain momentum, provide challenge and scrutiny to areas of slow progress, and ensure that implementation translates into meaningful improvements for patients, including rare cancer patients. Dr Robert Metcalf has been appointed as the National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers and will be responsible for providing independent challenge and supporting the delivery of the rare cancer commitments within the plan.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the department are taking to ensure that there is adequate long-term support for specialist youth suicide prevention.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of sustained, effective, long-term support for children and young people at risk of suicide.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies children and young people as a priority group and sets out a range of actions across education, healthcare, and online safety to help identify risk earlier, provide timely support, and reduce the number of young lives lost to suicide.
We continue to monitor implementation of the strategy, as set out in the answer of 27 October in response to Question 30784.