To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the factors considered by (a) his Department; and (b) relevant research funding bodies, when allocating investment for research in the less survivable cancers; and (iI) whether measures are in place to address historical underfunding.

The Health and Social Care (HSC) Research & Development (R&D) Division within the Public Health Agency are responsible for the administration of the Department’s budgetary allocation for Research & Development.

At present, HSC R&D do not specifically commission cancer research studies. Rather, they provide fund to cancer research infrastructure such as the Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Network (NICTN), the Belfast Experimental Medicine Centre and the Northern Ireland Biobank. The majority of funding for cancer research in Northern Ireland is provided by national Government, charitable or philanthropic organisations. My Department has no say in how these organisations allocate their funding.

I acknowledge the importance of cancer clinical trials and research and recognise that they have historically been underfunded in Northern Ireland.

It is clear that significant and sustained investment in cancer clinical trials and research is urgently required. However, in the context of ongoing budgetary challenges being faced by the Department, this is not possible at this point in time.