To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for radiotherapy treatment was in the latest period for which figures are available; what targets his Department has set for such waiting times; and if he will make a statement. (269671)

Average waiting times for cancer patients and average waiting times for specific cancer treatment types are not collected centrally. The cancer waiting time standard of a maximum wait of 31 days, from diagnosis to first cancer treatment for all cancers was introduced from 2005. Performance against this standard in the last period for which data are available (Quarter three 2008-09) was 99.5 per cent.