Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) Bill

Olivia Bailey Excerpts

Friday 13th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Social Care and Mental Health (Alison McGovern)]

I congratulate the hon. Member for Wokingham (Clive Jones) on introducing the Bill. I was 12 when my dad was first diagnosed with cancer; I was 29, and standing for election to this House for the first time, when he had his most recent major cancer treatment; and, as the House knows, my mum died of cancer in July after a painful period of serious illness, at the age of 73, so I like to think that when it comes to experience of this disease, I am no ignoramus.

We have heard from colleagues just how important this issue is to all of us in the House. I know that colleagues across the House will welcome the progress that we have made, just as they have welcomed the Government’s cancer plan. Around 290,000 more people over the last 12 months have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days. The number of patients who have received treatment within 62 days of referral is up to 70% over the last 12 months, from 66%. But I am under no illusion about the work still to do and the urgency that patients rightly expect from this Government.

[Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) (Lab)]

I associate myself with the Minister’s thanks to my near neighbour, the hon. Member for Wokingham (Clive Jones), who has done important work campaigning on cancer—I thank him for it. I also think a key part of our fight against cancer is those who fundraise for cancer research. Will my hon. Friend congratulate my constituent Stephen, who is in the Gallery today, on raising £1,600 walking 26 miles in the London Shine Night Walk for cancer research?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. Of course, fundraising is really important, and I offer my thanks to Stephen. I hope he has enjoyed the debate so far. He has done a great thing.

I have paid close attention to what the hon. Member for Wokingham said today. Colleagues on all sides are listening with sympathetic ears. All of us want our constituents to have earlier cancer diagnosis and better treatment, and to improve patient experience, ensuring that the progress we are making in the NHS is, as he points out it should be, transparent and accountable. While I share his ambition, I am sorry to say that the Government are unable to support his Bill, because we do not think that its provisions are necessary. Ultimately, the hon. Gentleman’s Bill rests on two principles: that there should be a clear national strategy for improving cancer outcomes; and that the Government should be transparent about the progress we are making.