Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's news story of 13 September 2015, From 2020 people with suspected cancer will be diagnosed faster, what progress has been made on the Department's commitment to the roll-out of a recovery package for everyone with a cancer diagnosis by 2020.

The Recovery Package is being commissioned and delivered in full or in part by many clinical commissioning groups and providers across England. In December 2016 NHS England announced that a £200 million fund will be available to Cancer Alliances over the next two years to specifically support the areas the Cancer Taskforce’s strategy estimated would need additional investment, including the full roll out of the Recovery Package to all cancer patients across the country.

Initial bids for funding were due on 18 January 2017. Clear guidance has been published and a regional and national panel will now assess all bids received. The funding will be signed off by the NHS England Investment Committee.