National Cancer Plan

Bayo Alaba Excerpts

Tuesday 4th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford) (Lab)]

I also commend the Minister for his great announcement, which is welcome and needed.

The Minister has often spoken about the importance of shifting from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community, and from analogue to digital. Residents of Southend East and Rochford deserve an NHS that is there when they need it. What impact does he think the plan will have on the issues he has outlined today?

[Andrew Gwynne]

My hon. Friend raises an important point, and it is a good one on which to end. Each of those three shifts—from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention—could be taken in isolation. However, by putting them together, we can shift how we deliver health and care in this country. We will make it fit for purpose, we will drive up standards across the system, we will get the NHS back to constitutional standards—which means lower waiting times, shorter waiting lists and better outcomes—and, when it comes to cancer, we will save lives. It is as simple as that.

Bill Presented

Statutory Adoption Pay (Report on Extension to the Self-Employed) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Lisa Smart presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of extending eligibility for statutory adoption pay to persons who are self-employed or contractors; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 7 March, and to be printed (Bill 175).