Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's long-term strategy is on tackling the backlog of people who have not started their first cancer treatment.

NHS Planning Guidance 2021/2022 outlines the cancer recovery priorities for 2021-22 and local systems, drawing on advice and analysis from their Cancer Alliance, will ensure that there is sufficient treatment capacity in place to meet cancer needs. Patients will benefit from approximately £1 billion allocated to tackle the elective backlog, including those awaiting treatment for cancer.