Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Prostate Cancer UK's study entitled Using real world data to bridge the evidence gap left by prostate cancer screening trials, published in October 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the finding relating to the reduction in potential harm following prostate-specific antigen testing.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not currently recommend screening for prostate cancer. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test for the condition, the prostate specific antigen test.

A UK NSC evidence review for prostate cancer screening is already underway. We welcome the study by Prostate Cancer UK, and will make sure it is fed into the UK NSC’s review of prostate screening.