Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to increase the funding available for research into children cancers.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.5 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24. Cancer is a major area of NIHR spend, reflecting its high priority.

Research is a vital part of improving diagnosis and treatment for children and young people with cancer. The NIHR spent approximately £9.9 million over the last five financial years, from 2019/20 to 2023/24, on directly funded research to improve outcomes for children and young people with cancer.

The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health, including childhood cancer. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients, and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

On 4 February 2024 my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce will be relaunched in 2025, alongside the national cancer plan, to identify ways to improve outcomes and patient experience for children and young people with cancer. Dame Caroline Dinenage and Professor Darren Hargrave have been appointed as co-chairs with Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel as vice-chair. The taskforce will bring together the country’s top experts to set out support for the development of the National Cancer Plan, which will improve treatment, detection, and research for cancer in children.