§ SIR CHARLES CAMERON (Glasgow, Bridgeton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that the increase in the number of deaths from cancer in the State of New York has induced the Legislature of that State to endow a laboratory at Buffalo for the study of that disease; and if he will request the British Embassy at Washington to procure copies of any official reports on the subject of the institution of that State laboratory and its working.
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) (for Mr. BRODRICK) CroydonThe attention of the Foreign Office has not previously been called to this fact, but I shall have much pleasure in procuring the desired information from Her Majesty's Embassy at Washington.
§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the number of deaths registered as from cancer per million of the population of the United Kingdom has within the past thirty years more than doubled; and whether, in view of the increase, he will consider the expediency of appointing a Commission to inquire into the subject, for the purpose, if possible, of devising some means whereby the frequency of the disease may be diminished.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.My right hon. friend wishes me to say that the attention of the Local Government Board has been called to the large increase in the number of deaths from cancer. They have, as opportunity has arisen, caused scientific research to be made into the natural history and causes of cancer; but I am advised that, in the present state of knowledge on the subject, no useful purpose 472 would be likely to be served by the appointment of a Royal Commission with regard to it.