Written questions by Lavery.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of prolonged or distant cancer treatment on the personal finances of (a) patients and (b) unpaid carers.

The Department recognises that a particular treatment may not be available at local hospitals, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre would be required, in order to receive the best possible care. The Department also knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for patients, including their unpaid carers.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met.The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to access specialist cancer treatments on patient outcomes and long-term National Health Service costs, the potential impact of prolonged or distant cancer treatment on the personal finances of patients and unpaid carers, and the potential impact of travel distance and associated costs on access to specialist cancer treatment. In addition, the Department has not made a formal estimate of the long-term cost to the NHS of delayed and disrupted access to specialist cancer treatment.The NHS in England runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of healthcare treatment uptake on the finances of low income households.

There has been no specific assessment of the potential impact of healthcare treatment uptake on the finances of low-income households.National Health Services are free at the point of use for those ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, except for certain charges, such as some NHS prescription charges and dental charges.Many people are eligible for help with health costs. This includes exemptions for specific groups, and support through the NHS Low Income Scheme for people on a low income. Patients on a low income may also be able to get help with other necessary health-related costs, for example through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, subject to eligibility.

How much the NHS has spent on commissioning proton beam therapy, including overseas referrals, in each of the last five financial years.

The Department does not have data on proton beam therapy commissioning costs, including overseas referrals, and has not compared the cost to NHS England of providing this treatment in England or the United Kingdom versus abroad. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing the availability of proton beam therapy. Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

What comparative assessment has been made of the cost to the NHS of delivering proton beam therapy domestically versus overseas.

The Department does not have data on proton beam therapy commissioning costs, including overseas referrals, and has not compared the cost to NHS England of providing this treatment in England or the United Kingdom versus abroad. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing the availability of proton beam therapy. Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

What information on his Department holds on the number of people who have partially or wholly self funded proton beam therapy in each of the last five years.

The Department oversees healthcare in England but does not routinely track how many residents have received proton beam therapy, either domestically or abroad, in the past five years.We also do not routinely collect data on patients eligible for this treatment, associated out-of-pocket costs, and the number of individuals who have self-funded their therapy.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of travel distance and associated costs on access to specialist cancer treatment.

The Department recognises that a particular treatment may not be available at local hospitals, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre would be required, in order to receive the best possible care. The Department also knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for patients, including their unpaid carers.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met.The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to access specialist cancer treatments on patient outcomes and long-term National Health Service costs, the potential impact of prolonged or distant cancer treatment on the personal finances of patients and unpaid carers, and the potential impact of travel distance and associated costs on access to specialist cancer treatment. In addition, the Department has not made a formal estimate of the long-term cost to the NHS of delayed and disrupted access to specialist cancer treatment.The NHS in England runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What assessment has been made of the long-term potential social and economic impacts of closed Rutherford Health sites on communities.

The Department did not provide an assessment of the cost, clinical impact, or NHS England’s treatment timelines associated with transitioning patients from Rutherford Health centres. This includes the Bomarsund site, prior to the organisation's liquidation. The Government is committed to improving performance for diagnosing and treating cancer. To support these objectives, the National Health Service is currently making use of two of the five former Rutherford Cancer sites, Taunton and Clatterbridge.

What assessment has been made of the potential merits, costs and feasibility of bringing the former Rutherford Centre at Bomarsund into NHS ownership or management.

The Department did not provide an assessment of the cost, clinical impact, or NHS England’s treatment timelines associated with transitioning patients from Rutherford Health centres. This includes the Bomarsund site, prior to the organisation's liquidation. The Government is committed to improving performance for diagnosing and treating cancer. To support these objectives, the National Health Service is currently making use of two of the five former Rutherford Cancer sites, Taunton and Clatterbridge.

What assessment has been made of clinical impact, treatment timings and associated costs for the NHS resulting from the closure of Rutherford Health centres, including the Bomarsund site.

The Department did not provide an assessment of the cost, clinical impact, or NHS England’s treatment timelines associated with transitioning patients from Rutherford Health centres. This includes the Bomarsund site, prior to the organisation's liquidation. The Government is committed to improving performance for diagnosing and treating cancer. To support these objectives, the National Health Service is currently making use of two of the five former Rutherford Cancer sites, Taunton and Clatterbridge.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing domestic NHS proton beam therapy on value for money in the NHS.

The Department does not have data on proton beam therapy commissioning costs, including overseas referrals, and has not compared the cost to NHS England of providing this treatment in England or the United Kingdom versus abroad. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing the availability of proton beam therapy. Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

How many UK residents received proton beam therapy (a) domestically and (b) overseas under NHS commissioning arrangements in each of the last five financial years.

The Department oversees healthcare in England but does not routinely track how many residents have received proton beam therapy, either domestically or abroad, in the past five years.We also do not routinely collect data on patients eligible for this treatment, associated out-of-pocket costs, and the number of individuals who have self-funded their therapy.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of patients who were eligible for proton beam therapy but did not receive it due to availability in each of the last five years.

The Department does not routinely collect data on the number of patients eligible for this treatment.Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. They consider all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options. While certain treatments may not be advised for some patients, these decisions are based on medical assessments and what's best for the individual's overall health and well-being.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) current and (b) future demand for proton beam therapy in England.

Treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. They consider all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options. While certain treatments may not be advised for some patients, these decisions are based on medical assessments and what's best for the individual's overall health and well-being.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of regional disparities in access to proton beam therapy and other highly specialised cancer treatments.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how every patient will have access to top-quality care through a new approach to quality and by providing more patients with access to specialist treatment centres. We will ensure that every patient, regardless of their postcode, has access to more personalised and more effective treatments.

How many patients in England (a) are awaiting cancer treatment and (b) have been waiting longer than the (i) 31 and (ii) 62 day targets.

Cancer treatment waiting list data is not published, however, we can provide the latest published 62-day cancer backlog figure, which was 15,102 for the week ending 1 March 2026. The 62-day backlog is the number of patients waiting on the 62-day pathway following an urgent suspected cancer referral. These figures include patients who will not have cancer and are waiting for this to be ruled out as well as those who are waiting for initial treatment following diagnosis of cancer.For the latest published month of cancer wating time statistics, from February 2026, 3,878 patients were breaching the 31-day treatment standard, and 8,500 patients were breaching the 62-day standard. These patients received a treatment after 31 and 62 days respectively.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to access specialist cancer treatments on patient outcomes and long term NHS costs.

The Department recognises that a particular treatment may not be available at local hospitals, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre would be required, in order to receive the best possible care. The Department also knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for patients, including their unpaid carers.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met.The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to access specialist cancer treatments on patient outcomes and long-term National Health Service costs, the potential impact of prolonged or distant cancer treatment on the personal finances of patients and unpaid carers, and the potential impact of travel distance and associated costs on access to specialist cancer treatment. In addition, the Department has not made a formal estimate of the long-term cost to the NHS of delayed and disrupted access to specialist cancer treatment.The NHS in England runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What estimate his Department has made of the (a) average and (b) total out of pocket costs incurred by patients and families accessing proton beam therapy, including travel, accommodation and subsistence, in each of the last five years.

The Department does not collect data on patients eligible for this treatment, associated out-of-pocket costs, and the number of individuals who have self-funded their therapy. However, NHS England and integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. Patients who do not qualify for the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme and who are on a low income may be able to claim travel costs through the Department for Work and Pensions via Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What estimate has been made of the long-term cost to the NHS of (a) delayed and (b) disrupted access to specialist cancer treatment.

The Department recognises that a particular treatment may not be available at local hospitals, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre would be required, in order to receive the best possible care. The Department also knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for patients, including their unpaid carers.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met.The Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to access specialist cancer treatments on patient outcomes and long-term National Health Service costs, the potential impact of prolonged or distant cancer treatment on the personal finances of patients and unpaid carers, and the potential impact of travel distance and associated costs on access to specialist cancer treatment. In addition, the Department has not made a formal estimate of the long-term cost to the NHS of delayed and disrupted access to specialist cancer treatment.The NHS in England runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of taking on patients who were previously receiving care from Rutherford Health prior to its liquidation.

The Department did not provide an assessment of the cost, clinical impact, or NHS England’s treatment timelines associated with transitioning patients from Rutherford Health centres. This includes the Bomarsund site, prior to the organisation's liquidation. The Government is committed to improving performance for diagnosing and treating cancer. To support these objectives, the National Health Service is currently making use of two of the five former Rutherford Cancer sites, Taunton and Clatterbridge.

What support the Government intends to provide to individuals who have experienced mental harm as a result of social media use.

A national consultation is currently underway to seek views on measures to improve children’s online safety across social media, gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots. The consultation forms part of the Government’s broader programme to understand how technology impacts children’s wellbeing, and what more can be done to help families strike the right balance. Insights from this consultation will help inform future policy to better protect children’s mental health and ensure that digital platforms play their part in promoting safe and healthy online experiences.It is unacceptable that too many people, especially children and young people, are not getting the support they need for their mental health. We need a new approach to mental health that reduces waiting times, improves the quality of care, and strengthens prevention and early intervention.The Government has made progress to expand access to mental health support. In the first 12 months of the Government, nearly 40,000 more children and young people received support compared to the previous 12 months. This is helped by over 8,000 extra mental health workers being recruited since July 2024, against a target of 8,500 by the end of this Parliament. The rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges is being accelerated so that 100% pupils in England will have access to this innovative early support by 2029. NHS England has also set clear expectations for integrated care boards to reduce the longest waits for children and young people’s community mental health services.