National Brain Cancer Lead

Debate between Baroness Mattinson and Baroness Merron

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Mattinson (Lab)]

My Lords, I want to pick up two aspects of this very welcome new appointment. The first is the degree to which the patient’s voice—so often overlooked in this area—will be heard, and that listening to it will be part of the remit. The second is about timing. Can the Minister reassure us on the speediness of the appointment, given that most brain cancer patients have 12 to 18 months to live after diagnosis? They do not have the luxury of time on their side.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I think that has been acknowledged by the Prime Minister in this review being so rapid—delivered within three months—and in the fact that he is taking personal oversight of this work. Again, that is to be welcomed. On the patient’s voice, one of the outcomes from discussions is that the Secretary of State will be convening researchers, clinicians and charities to identify practical ways to increase participation in brain cancer trials. Certainly, the Prime Minister has asked patients, families and charities to work with us to help raise awareness and support participation in clinical trials. For me, the patient’s voice is absolutely critical and I know that it will be at the heart of this.

Brain Tumours: Causes and Treatment

Debate between Baroness Mattinson and Baroness Merron

Monday 24th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Mattinson]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve the scale of research into the causes and treatment of brain tumours.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, research is vital to ensure that people get the most effective treatments and the highest quality care. We are committed to furthering investment in brain tumour research: between 2018-19 and 2023-24, NIHR invested £11.8 million and UKRI invested £46.8 million in this area. The new NIHR brain tumour research consortium does promise a step change, with further announcements being imminent. In addition, the national cancer plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care, including outcomes for those with brain tumours.

[Baroness Mattinson (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply, but I want to press for more urgency to beat this terrible disease. Brain cancer is now the biggest killer of children and adults under the age of 40 in the UK. Behind every statistic is a person, like my old friend Georgie Maynard, a mother of three who received her own devastating diagnosis two and a half years ago. Georgie has co-founded the Brain Cancer Justice group, and she is here today. She wants to know why the UK’s brain cancer survival rate ranks only 22nd out of 29 wealthy nations, why just 1% of the cancer research budget is allocated to brain cancer, and why only 12% of people with a brain tumour are able to participate in trials. In particular, the whole-genome sequencing is vital for brain tumour research, yet just 5% of brain tumour patients can access it.

Last September, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission published its recommendations. Will the Minister agree to review these recommendations and meet with the Brain Cancer Justice group to discuss how they can be incorporated?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for the opportunity to meet Georgie just before Questions. I am happy to write to my noble friend with answers to all those questions. On the last two, yes, we continue to work very closely in partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to drive further progress against its recommendations. I will certainly speak with the Minister who deals with this area—Ashley Dalton MP, who is currently ensuring that the cancer plan can be published at the beginning of the forthcoming year—about the suggestion of a meeting. We have very much engaged with the cancer community on the cancer plan, and we continue to be keen to do so.