Rare Cancers Bill

Lord Polak Excerpts

Friday 16th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Polak (Con)]

My Lords, it is an honour to follow my friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson. The noble Lord, Lord O’Shaughnessy, reminded us of that special day when Tessa Jowell spoke. I was sitting here and—I think this is what the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, was trying to say—the noble Lord, Lord O’Shaughnessy, replied in that difficult moment with sympathy, empathy and dignity, and I will always remember that too.

I declare my interest as vice-chairman of the All-Party Group on Brain Tumours. I was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in 1988 and I am one of the lucky ones. Following the words of the noble Lord, Lord Patel, whose bravery and pain I understand, many patients are unaware that tumour tissue removed during surgery may be used for diagnostic refinement research and the development of future treatments, and that patients have choices about how that tissue is stored. This is acute in brain cancers and other rare cancers where diagnosis is devastating, treatment is urgent and patients and their families face complex decisions at moments of extreme distress. In the forthcoming cancer plan I believe there should be a commitment to improving public and patient awareness of consent, including for tissue use in research; a commitment to clear and consistent national messaging, developed with patients and carers, about how consent can work; and a commitment to find ways for the public to give advance informed digital consent, rather than at that moment of crisis. I pay tribute to Professor Kathreena Kurian, professor of neuropathology at the University of Bristol Medical School. She has advised me, she is a friend and, sadly, some months ago she lost her own husband to brain cancer.

Finally, earlier this week I had the privilege of meeting two courageous young men, Tom Riley and Dan Horrocks. My noble friend Lord Bourne has spoken beautifully about Dan. Both are suffering from brain cancer but, rather than just suffer, they have set up a grass-roots organisation called Brain Cancer Justice, a movement of patients and families living with the consequences of, as they describe, underresearch, fragmented trials and a lack of accountability. They agree that while the Bill in itself is modest, it is, however, essential. I congratulate Dr Scott Arthur MP and the noble Baroness, Lady Elliott, and thank them for their leadership. The Bill provides that leadership that will improve access to clinical trials and test whether the incentives for rare cancer medicines are indeed fit for purpose. I am honoured to support the Bill, but I urge the Minister to find a way to get it on the statute book as quickly as possible.