Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a dedicated cancer strategy to work in conjunction with the Major Conditions Strategy.

On 24 January 2023, the Government announced plans to publish the Major Conditions Strategy, which will focus on tackling the six major conditions groups: cancers, mental ill-health, cardiovascular disease including stroke and diabetes, dementia, chronic respiratory diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders, which together account for approximately 60% of ill-health and early death in England. Addressing cancer together with other major conditions will allow the Department and NHS England to focus on similarities in approach, ensuring care is better centred around the patient.

Following the call for evidence for a 10-year cancer plan in 2022, the Department received over 5,000 submissions. These findings will be fed into the development of the Major Conditions Strategy.