Debates between Lindsay Hoyle and James Morris during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and James Morris
Tuesday 19th July 2022

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - -

I welcome you to the Dispatch Box, Minister.

James Morris Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (James Morris)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government are focused on improving the early diagnosis of cancer in England to aid cancer outcome rates. That was set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, setting an ambition of seeing 75% of people diagnosed within stages one and two by 2028. Progress has continued on delivering the Long Term Plan. That includes increased investment and public awareness campaigns, rolling out targeted lung health checks, and introducing non-specific symptom pathways to speed up diagnosis.

--- Later in debate ---
James Morris Portrait James Morris
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I deeply sympathise with patients and families who are dealing so courageously with the difficult conditions that he describes. The Government are taking an evidence-based approach to unlicensed cannabis-based products to ensure that treatments are safe and effective before they can be considered for routine funding within the NHS. Whether to prescribe cannabis for medicinal use must remain a clinical decision, and public funding arrangements apply, as they do for all other medicines. The Government remain committed to research and catalysing the generation of evidence to support the use of these products. The National Institute for Health and Care Research remains open—

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - -

Order. I call Mary Robinson.

James Morris Portrait James Morris
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The National Institute for Health and Care Research remains open to receiving research proposals in this area as a priority.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - -

Order. Minister, when I stand up, please do stop. You are the one who is dragging this out, so you tell these people why they cannot get in.