To ask the Minister of Health for an update on developing a Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Delivery of the Cancer Strategy was delayed for a short period due to the redeployment of staff in response to the global pandemic. However, work has resumed fully on this programme of work and I expect that it will be available for external consultation through the summer of 2021.

Under the Cancer Strategy remit, my Department with support from the Health and Social Care Board, has prepared a draft COVID-19 recovery plan ‘Building Back; Rebuilding Better’. The plan is fully aligned with the cancer strategy and targets and addresses cancer services impacted by the pandemic and will focus on a 3 year period until March 2024. The plan identifies and seeks to implement a range of actions to support and recover these services over a 3 year timeframe. There are significant costs associated with the plan and delivery will be subject to receiving the required level of investment.