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 potential merits of increasing funding for research into secondary breast cancer in Surrey Heath constituency.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Cancer is one of the NIHR’s largest areas of spend at over £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is an important example of this. In February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launched

Additionally, the Frimley Park Integrated Care System, located within the constituency mentioned, is part of the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network, and they play a key role in supporting the delivery of research, including secondary breast cancer.

The level of funding for research generally depends on funding applications received. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including secondary breast cancer.