Influencing the UK Parliaments

Cancer Research UK is the biggest funder of cancer research in the UK. We are an independent charity, supporting the work of around 4500 scientists, doctors and nurses in 35 towns and cities across the UK.

An independent voice

Cancer patients, researchers and healthcare professionals are on the front line of the NHS. They are the experts and it's important that Parliamentarians and policy-makers hear their views.

Cancer Research UK works with the governments in Westminster, Scotland, Wales, N Ireland, and in Europe. We campaign on the issues that our scientists and supporters tell us are important to them.

Sometimes we work in partnership with other health or cancer organisations, when we feel that a joint approach is more likely to be effective.

How do we work?

We take every opportunity to meet with Ministers, politicians and civil servants and tell them what we think about important issues and how legislation could be changed for the better.

Our researchers and doctors provide expert evidence to Select Committees, All Party Groups and public inquiries. They also help us frame responses to Department of Health, NICE and other public consultations.

Our Public Affairs team write detailed briefings for parliamentarians for debates and raise the profile of cancer issues at the political party conferences and other events.

Do you get any government funding?

The vast majority of our research is funded thanks to the generosity of the general public. Nearly all the £333 million we spend on cancer research every year is raised through legacies, donations from individuals, fundraising events, corporate partnerships and our retail chain. Amazingly, over a million people now give regularly to Cancer Research UK.

From time to time, we do receive a small amount of government funding, ring-fenced for specific projects. For example, in 2003 the Dept of Health gave us two and a half million pounds to develop anti-tobacco campaigns.