§ 17. Sir J. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many-cases of cancer were notified in Scotland in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. StodartCancer is not a statutorily notifiable disease. The numbers of deaths from cancer in the last five years, however, were as follows:
| 1959 | … | … | … | 11,032 |
| 1960 | … | … | … | 11,033 |
| 1961 | … | … | … | 11,221 |
| 1962 | … | … | … | 11,476 |
| 1963 | … | … | … | 11,720 |
§ Sir J. HendersonDoes my hon. Friend realise the great anxiety that there is throughout Scotland at the enormous increase of this dread disease, and can I have an assurance that neither money nor effort will be spared to try to arrest and combat this dreadful disease?
§ Mr. StodartYes, Sir.
§ Mr. W. Hamilton; Can the hon. Gentleman say what steps the Government are taking to step up their campaign against smoking because of the connection between smoking and cancer?
§ Mr. StodartIt is a fact that the great increase in the cause of cancer lies in cancer of the lungs. Continuing efforts are being made to improve the methods of earlier diagnosis and treatment, and the Government and local health and education authorities are carrying out a campaign to try to educate the public about the risk involved in smoking.