Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, relating to treatments, clinical trials, and other opportunities outside the United Kingdom that may improve outcomes for brain cancer patients, which bodies or officeholders are responsible for (1) identifying these opportunities; (2) deciding whether they should be pursued; (3) ensuring they are pursued; and (4) making sure patients benefit from them; and which bodies or officeholders are accountable where such opportunities do not progress to patient access in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Responsibility for the delivery of cancer services and the achievement of cancer outcomes sits with NHS England and local National Health Service organisations. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its research partners support the evidence base, while NHS England is responsible for service delivery and improvement. Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between DHSC, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.
The DHSC holds data on participation in brain tumour research studies on the NIHR Research Delivery Network portfolio but does not hold data on participation in international trials. On the other data requests contained in the Noble Lord’s questions, I refer him to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 14 September in response to Question HL3172, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
“I refer the Noble Lord Hunt to the answers provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677 and 16 July in response to Question HL1674. Further to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677, over eight years, from 2018/19 to 2025/26, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £66.3 million to brain tumour research. UKRI also supported 93 studentships over this period. All associated work packages for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium have now been fully executed. The information requested is not held by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Information on trials supported through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) can be found on their website. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research. Other information is not available as it is not held in the format requested or is not held centrally.”
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies hold data on (1) molecular characteristics and actionable mutations in brain cancers, (2) treatment matching, (3) clinical trial matching, and (4) patient outcomes; whether those data permit assessment of the relationship between molecular diagnosis, treatment or trial matching, and subsequent outcomes; and, if not, on what evidence Ministers assess whether molecularly driven and grade-agnostic approaches are being successfully implemented.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Responsibility for the delivery of cancer services and the achievement of cancer outcomes sits with NHS England and local National Health Service organisations. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its research partners support the evidence base, while NHS England is responsible for service delivery and improvement. Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between DHSC, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.
The DHSC holds data on participation in brain tumour research studies on the NIHR Research Delivery Network portfolio but does not hold data on participation in international trials. On the other data requests contained in the Noble Lord’s questions, I refer him to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 14 September in response to Question HL3172, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
“I refer the Noble Lord Hunt to the answers provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677 and 16 July in response to Question HL1674. Further to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677, over eight years, from 2018/19 to 2025/26, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £66.3 million to brain tumour research. UKRI also supported 93 studentships over this period. All associated work packages for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium have now been fully executed. The information requested is not held by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Information on trials supported through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) can be found on their website. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research. Other information is not available as it is not held in the format requested or is not held centrally.”
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies or officeholders are responsible for (1) reviewing evidence of disparities in brain cancer research investment, research activity, clinical trial opportunities, and patient outcomes between different grades, subtypes, and molecular profiles; (2) deciding whether such disparities require intervention and authorising or directing that intervention; and (3) ensuring accountability where evidence of disparity is identified but no action is taken.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Responsibility for the delivery of cancer services and the achievement of cancer outcomes sits with NHS England and local National Health Service organisations. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its research partners support the evidence base, while NHS England is responsible for service delivery and improvement. Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between DHSC, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.
The DHSC holds data on participation in brain tumour research studies on the NIHR Research Delivery Network portfolio but does not hold data on participation in international trials. On the other data requests contained in the Noble Lord’s questions, I refer him to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 14 September in response to Question HL3172, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
“I refer the Noble Lord Hunt to the answers provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677 and 16 July in response to Question HL1674. Further to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677, over eight years, from 2018/19 to 2025/26, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £66.3 million to brain tumour research. UKRI also supported 93 studentships over this period. All associated work packages for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium have now been fully executed. The information requested is not held by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Information on trials supported through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) can be found on their website. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research. Other information is not available as it is not held in the format requested or is not held centrally.”
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies or officeholders are accountable for (1) collecting, (2) reporting, and (3) publishing data on (a) expenditure on brain tumours, including direct disease-specific research expenditure, (b) molecular profiling, (c) liquid biopsy testing, (d) treatment and clinical trial matching, (e) international trial participation, and (f) patient outcomes; and where such data are not available for Parliamentary scrutiny, who is accountable.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Responsibility for the delivery of cancer services and the achievement of cancer outcomes sits with NHS England and local National Health Service organisations. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its research partners support the evidence base, while NHS England is responsible for service delivery and improvement. Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between DHSC, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.
The DHSC holds data on participation in brain tumour research studies on the NIHR Research Delivery Network portfolio but does not hold data on participation in international trials. On the other data requests contained in the Noble Lord’s questions, I refer him to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 14 September in response to Question HL3172, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
“I refer the Noble Lord Hunt to the answers provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677 and 16 July in response to Question HL1674. Further to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677, over eight years, from 2018/19 to 2025/26, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £66.3 million to brain tumour research. UKRI also supported 93 studentships over this period. All associated work packages for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium have now been fully executed. The information requested is not held by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Information on trials supported through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) can be found on their website. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research. Other information is not available as it is not held in the format requested or is not held centrally.”
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies or officeholders are accountable for figures relating to (1) expenditure on brain tumour research, (2) tumour-specific expenditure, (3) molecular testing and subsequent treatment or clinical trial matching, (4) participation in international clinical trials, and (5) patient outcomes; and where such figures are not available for Parliamentary scrutiny, who is accountable.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Responsibility for the delivery of cancer services and the achievement of cancer outcomes sits with NHS England and local National Health Service organisations. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its research partners support the evidence base, while NHS England is responsible for service delivery and improvement. Government responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between DHSC, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.
The DHSC holds data on participation in brain tumour research studies on the NIHR Research Delivery Network portfolio but does not hold data on participation in international trials. On the other data requests contained in the Noble Lord’s questions, I refer him to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 14 September in response to Question HL3172, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
“I refer the Noble Lord Hunt to the answers provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677 and 16 July in response to Question HL1674. Further to the answer provided on 15 July in response to Question HL1677, over eight years, from 2018/19 to 2025/26, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £66.3 million to brain tumour research. UKRI also supported 93 studentships over this period. All associated work packages for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium have now been fully executed. The information requested is not held by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Information on trials supported through the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) can be found on their website. The platform is designed to be company and clinical trial agnostic so any company can contact the CVLP to explore how the platform can support their research. Other information is not available as it is not held in the format requested or is not held centrally.”
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza to (1) wild birds, and (2) poultry.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A 2024 Natural England risk review [see attached] concluded that there is a very high likelihood that captive-reared mallards will be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 after release. Once exposed, there is a very high likelihood of widespread morbidity and mortality in wild birds. The review concludes that captive-reared juvenile mallards have potential to act as both a reservoir and amplifier of H5N1 and to play a major role in H5N1’s continued persistence and dissemination.
The release of captive-reared mallards is already prohibited in Protection Zones, Surveillance Zone and Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zones. Releases are also prohibited in Avian Influenza Prevention Zones with housing measures.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a habitats regulations assessment has been carried out for the release of mallards into Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation, given the risks of highly pathogenic avian influenza they present to wild birds.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is not aware that a habitats regulations assessment (HRA) has been carried out for the release of Mallards (for shooting) on Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in England.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Natural England report The risks from H5N1 to wild birds from captive-reared mallard, published on 24 June 2024, what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce high pathogenicity avian influenza risk to (1) wild birds, and (2) poultry.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is considering the available evidence on the impacts of gamebird and mallard release and shooting in England, including Natural England’s report The risks from H5N1 to wild birds from captive-reared mallard, published on 24 June 2024. This Government will also engage with the sector and other stakeholder groups as this work progresses. This work is helping to inform consideration of whether further measures, including licensing, may be needed in relation to the release of captive-reared birds.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of those releasing gamebirds under licence in England on (1) special areas of conservation, and (2) special protection areas, or within 500 metres of their boundaries, have registered their birds on the poultry register.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) can identify the number of gamebird locations recorded on the poultry register within Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and within 500 metres of their boundaries. However, this Government does not hold details of those releasing gamebirds under licence in a form that allows the percentage requested to be calculated.
Asked by: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the breeding of wildcat hybrids in light of animal welfare concerns.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As part of delivering the Animal Welfare Strategy, which was published on 22 December 2025, this Government will take steps to improve our understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding. Defra officials are drawing on expertise from the sector and considering any further steps which may improve welfare practices.