Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to clinical trials for young cancer patients.

The Government has taken steps to improve the delivery of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, including those researching preventative and therapeutic interventions for young cancer patients. This includes increased funding for clinical research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) which supports and funds clinical trials in the UK; entering an innovative partnership with Moderna to explore the potential of mRNA as a breakthrough technology for cancer; and establishing the Cancer Mission, with £22.5 million committed to the research and development of new immune-based cancer therapies and swifter diagnostics.

The NIHR has a dedicated Clinical Research Network that helps promote and facilitate patient access to clinical trials, including an online service called 'Be Part of Research'. ‘Be Part of Research’ promotes public participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest.