HC Deb 06 February 1930 vol 234 cc2070-1
60. Mr. R. S. YOUNG

asked the Minister of Health if he has any knowledge of any apparently successful treatment of cancer in this country outside the limits of the recognised medical profession?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)

Numerous methods of treating cancer, advocated or practised by persons who are not members of the recognised medical profession, are brought to the notice of my Department from time to time and carefully considered, but I am advised that none of them has proved, when judged by scientific standards, sufficiently successful to call for action in its support by the Ministry.

Mr. YOUNG

In view of the grave anxiety that exists concerning this disease, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if any such treatment were submitted to his Department, the question of its suitability would be decided purely and exclusively on its merits, irrespective of its source?

Mr. GREENWOOD

Certainly.

Mr. HANNON

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen anything of the methods proposed by a certain Mr. Ellis Barker, who, no doubt, has been in communication with him on the subject of remedies for cancer?

Mr. GREENWOOD

No, Sir; I am not sure that Mr. Ellis Barker is a practitioner.

61. Mr. YOUNG

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the total deaths from cancer in this country for 1929 or for any period of 1929; the deaths in the London area; and what proportion these figures represent of the respective totals of cases reported and treated?

Mr. GREENWOOD

There were registered in England and Wales during the period 1st January, 1929, to 30th September, 1929, 42,687 deaths (19,627 males and 23,060 females) which were classified to cancer. (Figures for December Quarter, 1929, are not yet available.) Of these, 5,155 (2,402 males and 2,753 females) were of persons whose usual place of residence was in London. These figures should be regarded as provisional. No information is available as to the number of cases treated.

Major GLYN

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making this disease notifiable?

Mr. GREENWOOD

That is a question of which I should like notice, because it is not an ordinary infectious disease.