§ 55. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in establishing a system of cancer registration in each of the hospital regions; what are the remaining difficulties; and what proposals the Health Services Council have made to him to overcome them.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneA system of cancer registration continues to operate effectively in two of the five regions. The difficulties in other Regions relate mainly to the methods of collecting data. The Cancer Committee of the Scottish Health Services Council have recommended a detailed organisation for cancer services including ways of securing accurate registration in all regions, and a memorandum based on these recommendations will be issued very shortly. My right hon. Friend will send a copy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HannanIs the Joint Under-Secretary of State not aware that this is substantially the same answer as that which he gave me a year ago? Can he not cut out some of the memoranda and get on with the job?
§ Mr. BrowneIs the hon. Member aware that his supplementary is the same as that which he asked me nearly a year ago? This is a difficult problem, as he knows, and that is why the Scottish Health Services Council was asked to report.