Written questions by Eastwood.

Whether his Department is taking steps to support (a) investigator-led and (b) commercially-sponsored clinical trials in blood cancer research.

The Department-funded National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research on blood cancer.NIHR infrastructure provides world-class research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce, and support services, which all help to support and deliver research across the National Health Service and the wider health and care system.The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials, making sure the United Kingdom is one of the best places in the world to conduct cutting-edge clinical research, including research into cancer.The Department spends £1.5 billion per year on research through the NIHR. NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was over £121.8 million for 2022/23, with more spent on cancer than any other disease group.

If he will take steps to hold discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on co-ordinating national cancer registries in their (a) collection, (b) analysis and (c) reporting of blood cancer data.

There are no current plans to hold discussions with the devolved administrations on co-ordinating national cancer registries. The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), which includes the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, is a member of the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Cancer Registries (UKIACR). The UKIACR has interests in all aspects of cancer registration, both in its methodology and in its application, to the collection, analysis, and publication of population-based data on the incidence, mortality, and survivability from cancer, and in the use of this data for research aimed at controlling cancer in the population. More details are available at the following link:https://ukiacr.org/about/ukiacr-constitutionStaff from the NDRS attend quarterly UKIACR executive meetings, where collaboration and standardisation, where possible, of the collection and reporting of cancer data is discussed. NDRS analysts also attend quarterly meetings with UKIACR analysts, where detailed discussions are held to ascertain any differences in the reporting of cancer data, and how these can be made analogous. Annual performance indicators, including key performance indicators for haematology, are available at the following link:https://ukiacr.org/kpisEngland and Wales use the same cancer registration information and communication technology environment, and contracts are held between England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, to provide the mechanisms to collect and store radiotherapy data.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the representation of people with hepatitis B in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

The Inquiry is independent of Government and the conduct of the Inquiry is a matter for the Chair. Since it began, the Inquiry sat to hear evidence for 290 days from 374 witnesses, including people with hepatitis B. In total, the Inquiry has received 5,570 witness statements, including 4,265 statements from people infected and affected.

What steps he is taking to (a) help improve patient understanding of self-monitoring of blood cancer and (b) increase funding for (i) sign-posting and referrals into charity support services and (ii) other resources for patient advocacy.

NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. 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.Health and wellbeing information and support is provided from diagnosis onwards and includes access to NHS Talking Therapy services for anxiety and depression. This is alongside wider work to improve psychosocial support for people affected by cancer, such as through local partnerships with cancer support charities.

What steps he is taking improve the disparities experienced by those from (a) ethnic minorities, (b) deprived backgrounds and (c) geographically remote locations in accessing a timely diagnosis of blood cancer.

Making improvements across different cancer types is critical to reducing disparities in cancer survival. Early cancer diagnosis is also a specific priority within the National Health Service’s wider Core20Plus5 approach to reducing healthcare inequalities.We recognise there are particular challenges for a number of different populations, particularly for people living in the most deprived areas of the country. As part of our wider strategy on early diagnosis, we are directly targeting our activity at areas we know will make a difference.The NHS’s Help Us, Help You cancer campaigns increase awareness of cancer symptoms, address barriers, and encourage people to get checked. Some campaigns focus on specific symptoms while others focus on fear as a barrier to help-seeking, which is relevant across all cancer types. The key target audience for these campaigns are people aged 50 year old and over living in more disadvantaged areas, as well as groups more likely to experience health inequalities, such as black and South Asian people.NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel.

How many (a) blood cancer clinical nurses employed and (b) vacant blood cancer clinical nurse specialist posts there are in the NHS; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing of a new blood cancer support role.

Information on the number of blood cancer clinical nurse specialists employed in the National Health Service, and the number of vacant posts, is not held centrally.The NHS has been facing chronic workforce shortages for years, and we have to be honest that bringing in the staff we need will take time.  We are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time.  To achieve this, we will reform the NHS to deliver more care in the community and more preventative care.As we fix the NHS, we will deliver the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, so patients, including blood cancer patients, are always cared for by the relevant, qualified healthcare professionals.

If he will take steps to help ensure blood cancer is routinely included as a distinct category when reporting on (a) prevalence, (b) healthcare utilisation and (c) other appropriate benchmarks.

The National Disease Registration Service, through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services (NCRAS), collects information on how many people in England have cancer. Blood cancer is included as a distinct category, labelled haematological neoplasms. The National Disease Registration Service’s website also shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. This information is available at the following link:https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/All cases of cancer diagnosed and treated in the National Health Service in England are registered by the NCRAS. This creates a clinically rich data resource that is used to measure diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer. The data held by the NCRAS supports service provision and commissioning in the NHS, clinical audits, and public health and epidemiological research, all of which contribute to improved outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer.

If she will hold discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on the (a) comparative costs of paying (i) vehicle and (ii) household insurance (A) annually and (B) in monthly instalments and (b) impact of such costs on people with lower incomes.

Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors on an ongoing basis. The Government recognises that the ability to pay insurance premiums in instalments is an important tool for improving access to insurance. The Government is determined that insurers should treat all customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA has been clear that it will be monitoring firms to make sure they provide products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.

If she will hold discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on the comparative costs of car insurance in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain.

Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors on an ongoing basis. The Government is determined that insurers should treat all customers fairly and insurance companies are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. The FCA is an independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry across the United Kingdom and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules. The FCA monitors firms to make sure they provide products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.

What the NHS geographic availability is of Palforzia as of September 2024; and if he will publish a regional breakdown the number of people that received Palforzia on the NHS since 2022.

Palforzia is a peanut immunotherapy drug that helps reduce the severity of children's allergic reactions that may occur with exposure to peanuts. Data on the number and geographical location of children that have had access to Palforzia in England is not held by the Department.The adoption of new treatments into the National Health Service in England is generally the result of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and commissioner decisions. NHS England and integrated care boards are required to put access in place for any treatment that carries a positive recommendation from the Technology Appraisal programme, operated by the NICE.Where treatments are approved by the NICE through the Technology Appraisal programme, the NHS is required to make them available within agreed timescales. Implementation of any NICE approvals should be supported by a service readiness assessment, and the development of additional capacity where necessary.