Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the size of the cancer nursing workforce.

The final NHS People Plan is due to be released in 2020 and will build upon the progress made through the Cancer Workforce Plan (published in 2017), including to increase the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists and develop common and consistent competencies for this role with a clear route into training. The plan will take targeted action to ensure the supply of National Health Service staff who play a vital role in delivering cancer care including specialist cancer nurses.