To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to ensure the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer. [HL4781]

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance on supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer in March 2004. The National Cancer Action Team is working closely with cancer networks to monitor and support the implementation of this guidance by the end of December 2009. Plans for the implementation of this guidance are now in place in every cancer network, and it is expected to be fully implemented by the December 2009 deadline.