§ 36. Dr. Millerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was spent on cancer research in the United Kingdom in the last three years; and if he will make a statement on the latest position on the possibility of a break-through in the disease with reference to aetiology, early diagnosis and treatment.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsEstimated direct expenditure by the Medical Research Council was £1.178 million in 1965–66, £1270 million in 1966–67 and will be £1.433 million in the current year. No estimate can be provided of expenditure in universities, medical schools and hospitals, or from private funds through 588 voluntary bodies. Nor do the figures include anything for basic research, much of which may prove to have an important bearing on the problems of cancer.
Steady progress continues to be made on a wide front and twenty M.R.C. research establishments are doing work in this field. But it would be misleading to speak of a "break-through" and impracticable to attempt a summary of the present position of which account is given in the medical and scientific journals.
§ Dr. MillerI thank my hon. Friend. Is she aware that this disease is one of the two groups which might be called the scourge of the twentieth century? While not wishing to decry such operations as heart transplants, may I ask my hon. Friend to give encouragement to any experiment likely to lead to a breakthrough in this research?
§ Mrs. WilliamsMy hon. Friend's interest in this is well known and I assure him that the range of studies is very wide indeed, as a list of the Research Council's establishments involved would suggest.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Gardner—Question No. 38.
§ Mr. Arnold ShawOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I understand that my Question No. 37 was taken with Question No. 11. The only similarity I see is the mention of part-time teachers. I am wondering why those Questions were taken together.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a matter for the Minister. The hon. Gentleman had his opportunity to ask a supplementary question.