Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase screening programmes to improve early diagnosis of cancers, in the context of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan, which will build on the three shifts in care set out in the 10-Year Health Plan to diagnose cancers earlier. Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we will make it easier for people to access cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services in patients’ local areas. We will increase participation in screening programmes through digital booking and by taking innovative approaches like self-sampling for cervical screening.

The National Cancer Plan, to be published later this year, will include further details on how we will speed up diagnosis, including how we will prioritise screening programmes and improve participation.