Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the role of National Cancer Lead for Rare Cancers is full-time; what the contracted FTE and weekly hours are; and what interim leadership arrangements are in place until the role is filled.

The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next ten years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and to provide regular updates to ministers.

Alongside the co-chairs, other leads for specific areas will sit on the board, including a lead for rare cancers. These leads will oversee delivery of the plan and advise on what action should be taken to improve outcomes.

It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting the lead roles, including for the rare cancer lead. Officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required public appointments procedures, including creating job specifications and agreeing contracted hours. The first meeting of the reformed National Cancer Board will be scheduled once the membership of the board has been agreed, and until such time, senior officials will continue to maintain oversight, reporting to ministers as required.