Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to implement targeted outreach programmes in areas with low (a) HPV vaccination and (b) cervical screening rates to (i) help tackle health disparities and (ii) ensure equitable access to preventive services.

In March 2025, NHS England published the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, setting out how the National Health Service will improve equitable uptake and coverage across human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/

The plan builds on five cross-cutting themes:

- increasing access;

- raising awareness;

- reducing inequalities;

- improving digital capabilities; and

- strengthening workforce capacity.

NHS England has launched its first ever cervical cancer elimination creative campaign and communications toolkit for Cervical Screening Awareness Week, from 16 to 24 June 2025. The campaign will include digital resources that create a strong sense of shared responsibility and which aim to increase awareness of the elimination goal, educate the public about HPV, and build confidence in the HPV vaccine and cervical screening.

There are differences in vaccination and screening coverage between communities, and some groups face inequalities. Health inequalities must continue to be addressed. NHS England will continue:

- building their understanding of the barriers to and perceptions of HPV vaccination and cervical screening, and will share this with local systems to support the planning of culturally-sensitive, community-led engagements with low uptake groups;

- developing inclusive materials to better reach underserved communities through trusted voices;

- identifying groups using national and local level data who may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer; and

- enabling trans men and non-binary people with a cervix to be routinely invited for cervical screening.