Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle the backlog of cancer treatments that have been delayed or postponed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

National Health Service providers have previously been asked to maintain access to essential cancer treatments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with guidance from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Cancer Alliances will continue to identify surgical capacity for cancer, and providers are working to make Cancer Hubs around England fully operational. Full use should be made of the available contracted independent sector hospital and diagnostic capacity locally and regionally.