In the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Hunt of King’s Heath asked the Government to make an assessment of recent analysis by Cancer Research UK projecting a £1 billion funding gap for cancer research
A member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours, Lord Hunt is an advocate for continuous and sustainable research for those with brain tumours.
In his response to Lord Hunt, Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said that the Government remained “fully committed” to tackling cancer by investing in cutting-edge cancer research.
In 2022/23, it invested almost £122 million via the National Institute for Health and Care Research, while UK Research and Innovation invests around £200 million annually. The Minister added he was confident that the Government’s “unwavering commitment will lead to continued improvements for cancer patients”.
Lord Hunt thanked the Minister for the Government’s commitment to long-term investment, before saying that around two thirds of UK cancer research was funded by charities. He called for increased support and recognition for research charities, which depend on the generosity of the public.
There were also notable contributions from Lord Carter of Haslemere who challenged the Government to raise their game, stating that the US government spends five times more than the UK on cancer research.
Lord Hallam asked about the cross-Government approach being taken to ensure maximum investment.
Viscount Camrose said the cross-Government and the cross-sector approaches were crucial. He cited the UK Cancer Research Strategy Forum as being an example of good practice.
Our Policy and Public Affairs Manager Thomas Brayford said: “We welcome this mini debate on research funding. Through our campaigning, we strive to increase awareness of the lack of funding for cancer research and particularly dedicated funding for research into brain tumours. We are clear that only through more research will we get closer to finding a cure.”
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