Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to embed genetic testing in cancer treatment pathways, and whether additional funding will be available to NHS trusts for that testing.

The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), commissioned by NHS England, ensures equitable access to genomic testing for cancer patients across England through seven regional GMS geographies working with Cancer Alliances and National Health Service trusts. Genomic testing is delivered by a national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes over 200 cancer indications for a range of genomic tests, including whole genome sequencing. Seven NHS GMS Alliances are funded to embed genomic medicine into clinical pathways and raise awareness among clinicians and patients. Funding for GLHs is agreed annually in line with NHS England funding allocations, with NHS England working with GLHs to drive efficiency and maximise available resources. In 2025/26, NHS England is continuing its Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme for a second year to deliver quality improvement initiatives, education, local engagement, and to establish Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline cancer genomics pathways and accelerate genomic testing.