Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into treatment for lobular breast cancer.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Responsibility for delivering Government funded cancer research is shared between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation, which includes the Medical Research Council.

As well as funding research itself, the Department invests significantly in research expertise and capacity, specialist facilities, support services, and collaborations to support and deliver research in England, known as NIHR infrastructure.

For example, the NIHR Royal Marsden Biomedical Research Centre supports lobular breast cancer by combining translational research, precision diagnostics, and targeted clinical trials to develop and test tailored treatments.

To further stimulate research in this area, NIHR launched a Highlight Notice on Invasive Lobular Cancer in November 2025. This focusses on translational and applied health priorities in topic areas identified through prioritisation activities and which are within the remit of the NIHR. These areas include detection and diagnosis, treatment, and longer-term surveillance and care of patients.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer. Our approach to funding research is through open and fair competition and peer review to ensure that the highest-quality proposals, most likely to deliver real impact for patients, are funded without imposing financial targets or limits.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consideration she has given to appointing a new British ambassador to Syria.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on this issue by the previous Foreign Secretary and the Permanent Under Secretary during their hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 14 July.

Found: Joe Robertson (Con) Sarah Sackman (Minister for Courts and Legal Services) John Slinger (Lab) Melanie Ward

Found: Christian WAKEFORD MP Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip), House of Commons Melanie WARD

Found: gifts only) Douglas Alexander Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Melanie Ward

Found:

Found: value of Hospitality (£) Douglas Alexander Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Melanie Ward

Found:

Found: Committee 76 List of Ministers’ Interests - October 2026 Melanie Ward

Found: Letter dated 29/09/2026 from Melanie Ward MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the report for deposit

Found: Letter dated 29/09/2026 from Melanie Ward MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the report for deposit