Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the interim leadership arrangements until the national lead for rare cancers takes up their post, including the name or title of the accountable post holder and the start date.

The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years.

This includes appointing a national clinical lead for rare cancers, to sit on the National Cancer Board and advise on delivery of actions in the rare cancers chapter of the plan, and a National Institute for Health and Care Research National Specialty Lead for Rare Cancers to support delivery of research on rare cancers, as part of implementation of the Rare Cancers Act.

Responsibility for supporting the role of the national clinical lead for rare cancers, including governance and renumeration, will reside with the Department and NHS England.

Selecting the national clinical lead for rare cancers requires an appropriate appointment process. NHS England and Department officials are following public appointment procedures, including drafting a job specification, determining contract length, weekly hours, renewal and review details, probation terms, and line management.

Until the appointment is made, NHS England’s Clinical Advisory Group has leads for specific rare cancers.