The funding is a key recommendation of the Children and Young People's Cancer taskforce as part of the National Cancer Plan, which will be published tomorrow.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their family's only focus should be on helping them recover and getting them well, not on whether they can afford the petrol or bus fare to get to their next appointment. This small change will make the world of difference to parents.

‘Our plan will leave no family out of pocket while their child goes through cancer. It doesn't matter what you earn – if your child needs treatment, we will help you get them there. When a child is fighting cancer, their family should never have to fight the system too.'

The announcement is the latest of a series of National Cancer Plan announcements that include improved access to specialists in rural and coastal communities, a crackdown on illegal underage sunbed use, improved bowel cancer screening to catch thousands more cases earlier and a new partnership to support England's 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment.

The Government 213,000 more patients have received a cancer diagnosis within the 28 day target since it came into office.