Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government is making in tackling (a) childhood cancers and (b) diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; and if he will make a statement.

A revised Service Specification for Children’s Cancer Services is due to be published, by NHS England and NHS Improvement, in April 2020. This follows an extensive review of children’s cancer services with the support of the Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Clinical Reference Group.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are aware that there are a number of clinical trials underway for diffuse midline glioma. Should a relevant evidence base arise from these clinical trials, a Provisional Policy Proposal would need to be submitted for consideration, in line with our published methods.