MP seeks Burnham's support in cancer reporting bill

An MP's proposal that the government reports to Parliament about the way it is tackling and preventing cancer will be discussed later.

Clive Jones, Wokingham's Liberal Democrat MP, wants information on "specified targets and measures relating to cancer and to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment" of it to be provided annually.

Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and he has appealed to prime minister Andy Burnham to support his private member's bill (PMB).

Cancer Research UK, on behalf of 64 cancer charities, backed his proposal in a letter it sent to the health secretary Yvette Cooper.

Jones made his appeal after the prime minister appeared on Channel 4's Googlebox for Stand Up to Cancer in October.

"Having sat down for this cause on Gogglebox, the prime minister now has the chance to stand up for it on Friday," Jones said.

"As a cancer survivor, I know that plans do not treat patients. Delivery does.

"Every missed target is a person diagnosed too late or left waiting too long, and without regular reporting those failures stay hidden until they can no longer be put right."

Jones's Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) Bill will have its second reading later, often regarded as a bill's first major test of its support amongst MPs.

The government currently has a National Cancer Plan, which it says seeks to "transform care and outcomes in England by 2035".

Jones says his proposal would not "rewrite" that, but would "simply let Parliament, patients and the public see whether it is being delivered".

PMBs are bills introduced by MPs who are not government ministers.

They are the best way for backbenchers to bring forward a new law by winning cross-party support or having the bill adopted by the government.

Notable PMB successes include the legalisation of abortion (brought by David Steel), homosexuality (Leo Abse) and securing the abolition of the death penalty (Sydney Silverman).