Written questions by Jones.

Whether his Department is taking steps to increase the geographical spread of cancer clinical trial sites open to (a) teenagers and (b) young adults.

The Department is committed to maximising the United Kingdom’s potential to lead the world in clinical research, with the aim of ensuring that all patients, including teenagers and young adults with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research for teenagers and young adults with cancer.This research infrastructure includes a network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, co-funded by the NIHR, Cancer Research UK, and the Little Princess Trust, which work across the whole of the UK, bringing together world-leading laboratory and clinical researchers to test new treatments for adults and children with cancer.The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports patients, the public, and health and care organisations across England to participate in high-quality research. The RDN consists of 12 regional RDNs, which support sites across England to deliver clinical research, including clinical research for teenagers and young adults with cancer.The newly designated Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) will build further capacity in delivering commercial clinical research. There are 21 CRDCs spread across the UK, and one of the CRDCs, based at the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, is dedicated to the delivery of commercial clinical trials for treating children and young people.

What support his Department is providing to hospital trusts waiting for their wave of the New Hospital Programme to be implemented.

Some Wave 2 and 3 schemes will receive funding for specific agreed activities, such as land purchases, that can be progressed during the Spending Review period. We will continue to engage with trusts over the next five years to establish whether there are any activities that can be progressed during the Spending Review period.The Government recognises that in the interim, delivering high-quality National Health Service healthcare services requires safe, sustainable, and effective infrastructure. That is why the Government is backing the NHS with over £4 billion in operational capital and £750 million for estates safety in 2025/26, enabling systems to allocate funding according to local priorities, including maintenance and repairs at New Hospital Programme (NHP) sites. NHS trusts waiting for their NHP wave to be implemented should discuss options with the responsible system in order to allocate 2025/26 operational capital and national programme allocations towards needs at their sites. Capital funding levels beyond 2025/26 will be determined by the current Spending Review, concluding in June of this year, which will consider the needs of the NHS estate.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transitioning to animal free medical research methods on public health.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”.Recent developments in technology, in particular cell biology, organoids and AI, promise a step-change in the utility of alternatives to animal testing, which are expected to be more accurate than current animal-based approaches. These alternatives have the potential to improve understanding of human disease, reduce research development time and improve efficacy of therapeutics, providing substantial benefits for public health. The Government will publish a strategy for supporting the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to help support a transition to animal-free medical research methods.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs). Work to support this transition must be science-led and in lock step with partners.The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transitioning to animal free medical research methods on the economy.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year, which will consider economic impacts.Home to world leading research and pharmaceutical businesses, the UK is well positioned to capitalise on the global non-animal technologies for life sciences market, estimated to be worth $29.4 billion by 2030, and on the scientific and economic advantages of more human-relevant methods applied in product development and testing.

What steps he is taking to ensure NHS trusts do not have to (a) reduce substantive staff posts and (b) scale back service provision to meet operational priorities in 2025-26.

We have changed the National Health Service operating model to devolve power to local leaders. The Darzi investigation highlighted that there were too many targets set for the NHS, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or be held properly accountable. 2025/26 NHS Planning Guidance therefore stripped back instructions to the NHS.These clear and concise instructions will allow local leaders to focus on the job of meeting patients’ needs and improving the communities they serve. We are giving more freedom and autonomy to good leaders, including clinical leaders and managers in the NHS who are coming up with some of the best ways of improving productivity gains in the system.2025/26 Planning Guidance was clear that the 2025/26 financial year needs to mark a financial reset for the NHS, and that systems must develop plans, including for the numbers of substantive staff, that are affordable within the allocations set, exhausting all opportunities to improve productivity and tackle waste, and take decisions on how to prioritise resources to best meet the health needs of their local population. The NHS England Chief Executive also set out, on 1 April, further actions to lay the foundations for reform, including halving the growth in corporate costs in providers since 2018/19.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the National Cancer Plan with include consultation with blood cancer (a) consultant haematologists, (b) clinical nurse specialists and (c) other staff.

The Government recognises that a cancer-specific approach is needed to meet the challenges in cancer care, and the value in wide-ranging and meaningful engagement and consultation, including with blood cancer professionals and staff, whilst developing the National Cancer Plan.Alongside the Call for Evidence launched on 4 February, our engagement has included a wide range of cancer partners, including charities, patient representative bodies, and a clinical advisory group that involves specialists from across cancer specialties, including haematology, to advise on development of the plan.The Call for Evidence closed on 29 April 2025, and to date has received over 11,000 responses, including many from professionals.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that radiotherapy treatment meets NHS cancer waiting times.

The Department is committed to improving cancer outcomes and reducing waiting times for treatment for patients across the country, including for patients in Wokingham.To ensure the most advanced radiotherapy treatment is available to patients, the Department recently invested £70 million in 28 new radiotherapy machines. We are committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment across England and aim to ensure that no one is waiting longer than they should for lifesaving treatment. As a first step to achieving this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, helping to ensure earlier diagnoses and faster treatment for those who need it most, providing better outcomes for cancer patients.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

How many LINAC machines are (a) currently within the recommended lifespan and (b) beyond the recommended lifespan.

The Department does not hold data on how many radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each National Health Service trust.The number of radiotherapy machines in use which are over the 10-year recommended age is not published by NHS England. Since April 2022 the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has been with local systems.

Whether he plans to allocate further funding for new radiotherapy LINAC machines.

The Government allocated £70 million for the replacement of ageing radiotherapy machines. There are no plans at this stage to allocate further central funding for this. Responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines continues to sit with local systems.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

Whether he has made an estimate of the number of NHS Trusts that are using LINAC machines that are beyond their recommended lifespan.

The Department does not hold data on how many radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each National Health Service trust.The number of radiotherapy machines in use which are over the 10-year recommended age is not published by NHS England. Since April 2022 the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has been with local systems.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of radiotherapy on cancer outcomes in (a) Wokingham constituency and (b) England.

The Department is committed to improving cancer outcomes and reducing waiting times for treatment for patients across the country, including for patients in Wokingham.To ensure the most advanced radiotherapy treatment is available to patients, the Department recently invested £70 million in 28 new radiotherapy machines. We are committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment across England and aim to ensure that no one is waiting longer than they should for lifesaving treatment. As a first step to achieving this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, helping to ensure earlier diagnoses and faster treatment for those who need it most, providing better outcomes for cancer patients.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

What steps his Department is taking to address regional inequalities in access to radiotherapy.

To help to address regional inequalities in access to radiotherapy, the Department has allocated £70 million of funding for 28 new radiotherapy machines to trusts across the country, to replace outdated machines.Reducing inequalities is a priority for the National Cancer Plan, which will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival, and will develop interventions to tackle these. This includes looking at inequalities related to geographic location.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Cancer Plan on increasing the number of blood cancer (i) nurses and (ii) doctors over the next 10 years.

The Department is committed to developing a skilled blood cancer workforce, including nurses and doctors, so that patients receive care from the right professionals, at the right time, and in the right place. A refreshed Workforce Plan will be published later this year to ensure the National Health Service has the necessary staff and expertise to deliver high-quality care, from diagnosis through to treatment.To ensure that people diagnosed with blood cancer have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, NHS England has committed to all patients, including those with blood cancer, having access to the right expertise and support, including a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other support worker. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.Beyond the Workforce Plan, NHS England is currently working to strengthen pathways into cancer specialties by expanding training opportunities and creating structured career routes. This includes increasing medical training posts in haematology by 20 in 2024 and enhancing the scientific workforce supply through initiatives such as the Scientist Training Programme and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.

With reference to funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, how many hospital trusts were given funding for (a) new radiotherapy machines and (b) replacing out-of-date radiotherapy machines.

28 trusts submitted applications for funding, and each trust has been awarded funding to replace one machine. For further information, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills on 7 April 2025 to Question 41043.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a rolling replacement programme for out-of-date radiotherapy machines.

There are currently no plans to have a rolling replacement programme for out-of-date radiotherapy machines. Responsibility for funding replacement machines lies with local systems.

What steps his Department is taking with blood cancer (a) charities, (b) academic institutions and (c) professional bodies to improve recruitment and retention in the blood cancer workforce.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure that we retain more of our skilled and dedicated staff. NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.NHS England is working with partners, including the Royal College of Pathologists, Cancer Alliances, and genomics programme leads, to strengthen diagnostic workforce capacity across cancer services, including pathology and cancer genomics. This includes investing in new training pathways, digital pathology, and genomics education.

What steps he is taking to reduce reliance on locum consultants in blood cancer teams at district general hospitals.

The planning guidance states that trusts should reduce their agency spend by 30% this year, and reduce bank spend by 10%. It also sets our ambition to eliminate agency use in the coming years.NHS England is investing in expanding specialty training posts in high-demand cancer disciplines, including haematology, and is supporting local systems to retain and develop multidisciplinary teams. This includes workforce modelling, to identify gaps, and rolling out an appropriate workforce skill mix through scientific workforce pathways.

How the National Cancer Plan will include healthcare professionals working in blood cancer.

The Department is committed to developing a skilled blood cancer workforce, including nurses and doctors, so that patients receive care from the right professionals, at the right time, and in the right place. A refreshed Workforce Plan will be published later this year to ensure the National Health Service has the necessary staff and expertise to deliver high-quality care, from diagnosis through to treatment.To ensure that people diagnosed with blood cancer have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, NHS England has committed to all patients, including those with blood cancer, having access to the right expertise and support, including a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other support worker. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.Beyond the Workforce Plan, NHS England is currently working to strengthen pathways into cancer specialties by expanding training opportunities and creating structured career routes. This includes increasing medical training posts in haematology by 20 in 2024 and enhancing the scientific workforce supply through initiatives such as the Scientist Training Programme and Higher Specialist Scientist Training.

What steps he is taking to ensure the retention of blood cancer clinical expertise following the merger of NHS England with his Department.

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.We continue to work collaboratively across both organisations to put in place plans to ensure continuity of services and patient safety, including for retaining blood cancer clinical expertise.We will publish a refreshed Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it, including for blood cancer.