The Queen’s 70th year is an opportunity to reflect on all the changes over these decades and the extraordinary service of Her Majesty. Her steadying influence and humility is something that we probably do not fully appreciate or grasp but there is no doubt that she continues to capture the hearts of every new generation. The United Kingdom is favoured by her reign and, from the Commonwealth and beyond, millions of people around the world are positively impacted by her leadership and service. Long may She reign.
As a Chair of the Brain Tumour Parliamentary Group I was pleased to welcome along with my fellow ‘parliament cancer chairs’ the ‘War on Cancer’ announced on World Cancer Day last week. The Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced the Government’s 10 Year Plan which harnesses the very best of cancer care and the novel treatments in the UK to ensure every tool and every bit of knowledge is used to combat cancer, whichever cancer it may be.
A family who has experienced a brain tumour diagnosis will know exactly why this is so important as we know treatment has barely changed in decades and the reason for such low success rates compared to other cancers is the brilliant ability of our bodies to protect our brains which inadvertently creates a barrier to drugs that are otherwise effective against cancer. Novel ways of getting drugs directly to the brain tumour are trialed but we are a long way from this being a routine way of treating cancer. This is due to the high bar for research funding and the safety checks that must be met before a treatment can be licensed. The ‘War on Cancer’ must breakdown the unnecessary holdups and barriers to effect brain tumour treatment. All Cornish MPs are meeting with the Health Secretary this month to discuss this, social care in Cornwall and how we can free up beds in RCHT which in turn frees up ambulances and cuts waiting times.
Last week we debated the Government’s method of supporting farmers following decades of the Common Agricultural Policy which rewarded landowners not the benefit of the land to the nation. The Government’s approach is to use public money for public good. In the debate I argued that funds must ensure we grow much more of the food that we can produce in the UK to support food security. We must enthuse farmers rather than bog them down in red tape.
We must also enthuse farmers to pass on their expertise to fresh blood coming into the sector and Government must work to promote food and farming in our schools and colleges. Tax-payers funds should be used to ensure we stop soil erosion and work to improve rather than discourage good soil health. It is vital incentives are available to support the viability of small farms and protect them from being bought up as hobby farms or large gardens. Finally, I argued that we need to get on with it to ensure support we give to farmers produces the food we need in a healthy and sustainable manner.
