URGENT: The Rare Cancers Bill is at risk and we need your help!
The Rare Cancers Bill is at risk and we need your help today.
Earlier this month, the Rare Cancers Bill passed Committee Stage unopposed with strong cross-party backing. However, a last-minute amendment now puts the Bill in danger of falling this Friday.
If fewer than 40 MPs are present, or fewer than 27 vote in support, the Bill will fall – a fate that has ended many Private Members’ Bills at this stage. This would be devastating for people living with rare and less common cancers and for everyone who has worked tirelessly to progress this vital legislation.
The Bill returns for its Report Stage in the House of Commons on Friday 11 July. A vote is expected, and your MP’s presence is crucial to ensure the Bill passes.
What is Report Stage?
- Follows Committee Stage in the passage of a Bill.
- Takes place on the floor of the House of Commons.
- No set time period between Committee Stage ending and Report Stage starting.
- All MPs can speak and vote, not just committee members.
- Any MP can propose amendments or new clauses.
- Debates can be spread over multiple days for complex Bills.
Can a Bill fail at Report Stage?
- Yes. If key amendments are rejected or defeated, the Bill can effectively fail.
- Even if it technically continues, its chances of becoming law are significantly reduced if it loses crucial support or is heavily amended.
Whats Happenening?
- The Bill returns to the House of Commons on Friday 11 July.
- Sir Christopher Chope has tabled an amendment. If pushed to a vote, it will require MPs to be present to support it.
- If fewer than 40 MPs attend, or fewer than 27 vote for it, the Bill will fall.
What can be done?
- Call or Email your MP today. Urge them to attend Parliament this Friday morning and support the Bill.
- Use the template letter and title your email “Urgent support needed for this Friday’s vote” so MPs know this is time-sensitive.
The Rare Cancers Bill will:
- Appoint a named responsible lead for the delivery of rare cancer research, providing greater accountability, facilitating collaboration and long-term coordination for the UK’s research landscape.
- Commit the Government to review the UK’s Orphan Drug Regulations, examining what can be done to improve the regulations to support the development of treatments for rare and less common cancers.
- Ensure patient data from cancer registries across the UK is shared with the ‘Be Part of Research’ Registry, with a new tailored service for rare cancers, collating all UK patient data in a single, accessible registry.