7. Question No. 7—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 7—Health7. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Does he intend to make a public announcement about the Interim Cancer Action Plan before the end of this parliamentary sitting block; if not when?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): I'm not going to be rushed into making announcements by that member. It's important the actions in the plan are lined up correctly to ensure we're delivering actions that will benefit those living with cancer but I can assure the member that it will not take nine years for this Government to take action on cancer.Hon Michael Woodhouse: In relation to that answer is he not aware that the previous Government had a comprehensive cancer plan published in December 2014 for the period 2015 to 2018?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am aware that the previous Government scrapped Cancer Control New Zealand the one agency at the time with a mandate to provide strong central leadership on cancer control. I do though welcome their change of heart.Hon Michael Woodhouse: That's not an answer to the question.SPEAKER: The member's right. That's not an answer to the question.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I let the member know what I was aware of which is that they scrapped the cancer control agency that was actually responsible for mandating change.SPEAKER: All the member has to do is indicate whether he's aware or unaware of the existence of the plan.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I reject the member's characterisation of it. It was a continuation of the cancer work that was started under the previous Labour Government.Hon Michael Woodhouse: When he said yesterday It is great to see the National Party adopting Labour Party policy from 2017." did he not think it ironic that his Government didn't also adopt Labour Party policy? [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Mr Doocey you're on your last warning.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am glad that the National Party has caught up to where the Labour Party was in 2017. Since that time of course I've had the opportunity to build relationships with the sector to work through the best way to deliver on the principles of centrally directed strong cancer care with accountability and I do look forward to the member's support when he catches up to where we are in 2019.Hon Grant Robertson: Does the Minister see any irony whatsoever in the promotion of an agency such as this by a party who in Government said it would be a complete waste of money?SPEAKER: Order! Order! No responsibility.Hon Michael Woodhouse: How can he be confident his plan will be an improvement on the previous three-year plan when he didn't even bother to undertake a review of that previous plan?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Earlier this year there was a conference called Cancer Care at a Crossroads which was supported by the Ministry of Health and which also had participants from across the cancer care spectrum at the conference and people suffering—living with cancer. That conference was the basis for building the new plan. What people there recognised was that we had inherited as a Government an uneven quality of care across New Zealand. We're focused on dealing with the problems that we've inherited with the underfunding in the health system and with making sure that in the future there is a high standard of cancer care across New Zealand so that no matter who you are no matter where you live you can expect a high quality of cancer care. As Minister I accept the problems I've inherited from the previous Government and I'm determined to fix them.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Isn't it true that at that conference he was embarrassed by the Vining family in January over his lack of a plan made a promise to deliver one within a few weeks and has broken that promise?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No. Melissa Vining expressed to me directly that she felt she had been let down by the system and that there needed to be accountability and that in future we needed a cancer action plan. I have since spoken with the Vinings. They are very clear with me that they think we need to take the time to get this right and they are very clear with me that we need to invest in making sure we have a high standard of cancer care across New Zealand and I'm determined to deliver on that.Hon Michael Woodhouse: When he said yesterday "We're a Government that consults and works with others to deliver cancer care" does that mean there will be yet another six months of consultation when the interim plan is released before any further initiatives are put in place?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No. I've been very clear that the interim plan will contain actions. After years of underfunding and neglect there are some actions which are incredibly obvious not just the drugs that the member has spoken about but across the spectrum of care: screening radiation therapy and other interventions. There are a lot of opportunities when cancer care has been neglected for so long to make investments immediately but of course in terms of finalising the longer-term plan we want to make sure that those who are delivering the care are involved. We won't ignore them and announce policy on the hoof like his party did on the weekend."