Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to appoint the independent co‑chair of the National Cancer Plan implementation board, and what criteria will be used to ensure that the role is independent of government.

The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 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. The board will be co-chaired by the Director General for Planned Care in the Department, as well as an independent representative.

It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting an independent representative to co-chair the board. To ensure that the co-chair of the board is independent of the Government, officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required appointments procedures. An appointment will be made following all required ministerial approvals. The position of co-chair is presently being advertised on the GOV.UK website, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care/about/recruitment