Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of breast clinical and medical oncologists to meet patient demand.

No specific assessment has been made. The Government has committed to publishing the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. This will include independently verified forecasts for the number of healthcare professionals required in future years, taking full account of improvements in retention and productivity. This Plan is due to be published shortly.