Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to instruct NHS England to increase the baseline number of specialty training places in clinical oncology in order to progressively eliminate workforce shortfalls and reduce delays in cancer care.

The Government committed in the 10-Year Health Plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need. Further information on which specialties will receive these places and when will be announced in due course.

Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, through better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.

In addition, the Department will also use training more directly as a lever to support improvements in operational performance, prioritising training places in trusts, often those in rural or coastal areas, where vacancy rates are higher and performance is lower.