Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Paul Burstow and Greg Hands

Tuesday 8th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

18. What assessment he has made of the effect on survival rates of his Department’s cancer strategy.

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

We published “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” on 12 January. It sets out a range of actions to improve cancer outcomes, including diagnosing cancer earlier, helping people to live healthier lives to reduce preventable cancers, screening more people, introducing new screening programmes, and ensuring that all patients have access to the best possible treatment, care and support. Through those approaches, we aim to save at least an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15. We will publish annual reports to measure progress on implementation of the strategy.

[Greg Hands]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the establishment of the cancer drugs fund will help the UK to raise its cancer survival rate from among the worst in Europe to potentially one of the very best? [Interruption.]