§ Q3. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his foreword to Lord Zuckerman's report on cancer research, he will make a further statement on the implications of that report.
§ The Prime MinisterI said in the foreword to Lord Zuckerman's report that the Government would welcome the views of the Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research and the Standing Medical Advisory Committee's Sub-Committee on Cancer on whether there was scope for further action. I have just received the views of the first body and I await those of the second. I shall not be in a position to make a statement until the implications of these views have been studied.
§ Mr. JannerDoes the Prime Minister agree that the figure of £10 million shown in the report as allegedly spent on research directly related to cancer is pathetically low? Is he aware that the accounts of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund show that even that figure is a considerable exaggeration? As he lent his name to the report, will he order an inquiry into the figures now?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Gentleman, having studied Lord Zuckerman's report, will recognise that Lord Zuckerman said that research could not absorb a great increase in the finance available at one go. He suggested that there should be a steady improvement in the amount of money available.
There are other limiting factors such as those of sufficient training and capability to engage in research. This is one of the points which have been raised already and to which we are giving consideration.