Health secretary Steve Barclay challenged over government’s record on cancer treatment

During Health and Social Care Department questions today, the Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant challenged the secretary of state over the government’s record on cancer treatment.

Sir Chris said: “Please, can I urge the Minister not always to give the rosy good statistics, but also face up to the fact that we’ve got some real dangers and in the statistics as well”.

Health secretary Steve Barclay responded: “We do have nine in ten patients starting treatment within a month, and the cancer survival index for England is increasing steadily”.