HL Deb 16 March 1971 vol 316 cc313-5

2.38 p.m.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will issue a short White Paper or similar document, at a conveniently early date, dealing with the increasing incidence of cancer, and including—in laymen's terms—such information as:—

  1. (a) the yearly number of deaths from this cause during the last thirty years;
  2. (b) the number of fresh cases known to come under medical super vision each year;
  3. (c) an analysis of the foregoing figures to show the various types of cancer, or the parts of the body affected;
  4. (d) a short summary of the methods of treatment employed in various forms of cancer, together with an indication of the degree of success achieved;
and whether they will say whether extra money for research in British institutions and in collaboration with other countries (in addition to that already provided by the Government and by charities) could hold out hope of improved results; and if so, whether, by grants from the Exchequer or by means of a special cancer stamp to be affixed half-yearly to the National Insurance card, they will arrange for this money to be provided.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, the Registrar General for England and Wales publishes figures of cancer deaths in his Annual Statistical Review, and the supplementary volumes give numbers and rates for registration and survival. So far as the complexity of the subject permits, all the statistics and analyses are set out as simply as possible. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services does not believe that this complex sub ject could be adequately treated in a single publication of the type the noble Lord has suggested.

With regard to the second part of the noble Lord's Question, the whole field of medical research, including cancer research, is kept under continuous review by the Medical Research Council to ensure that funds are distributed to the best advantage among scientists who are working in areas of particular promise. Cancer research is regarded by the Medical Research Council as being relatively generously supported at the present time in relation to other areas of research. I will write to the noble Lord more fully, if I may, on some aspects of his Question.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply, and will await his letter before pursuing the matter further. But perhaps I may ask him whether he does not think that the general tone of his reply was in the nature of indicating that sufficient is being done at the present. May I ask him whether he considers that sufficient is being done at the present; whether he does not think that there may be a shortage of men, and that this can be overcome by creating a number of fellowships and professorships? Further, does he not think that if more money is made available more work can be done?

LORD ABERDARE

My Loris, this is an almost impossible question to answer. More money could indeed be used in certain areas. For example, one project which is under consideration is the rebuilding of the Institute for Cancer Research. That is a large capital project which would be of use. So far as immediate research is concerned, the Medical Research Council feel that cancer is already getting more generous treatment than some of the other fields of research. If more funds are developed for cancer research it may well mean that skilled manpower is diverted from other fields. There may in the future be need for more money in particulary hopeful lines of research in cancer.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, and I will await his letter before taking the matter further. But I must say that his reply did not seem to be as satisfactory as I had expected.

LORD RAGLAN

My Lords, will the noble Lord let us know how accurate are the diagnoses of the causes of death, and whether they are accurate enough to compile the kind of statistics that my noble friend requires?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I should have thought that the diagnoses for deaths from cancer were, on the whole, very accurate.

LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURY

My Lords, my noble friend referred to the complexity of this subject. Has he observed the contradictory nature of some of the propaganda that comes out in connection with smoking and lung cancer? Is he aware that for some time it was said that cigarette smoking is the most harmful, whereas in the last few weeks in the Press statements have come out to the effect that this is quite wrong and that cigar smoking or pipe smoking is even more dangerous? Is it not necessary to look at the propaganda coming out, in case it should fall into disrepute?

Loan ABERDARE

My Lords, my information is that cigarette smoking is more dangerous than pipe smoking or cigar smoking. But perhaps my noble friend would like to take part in the debate to-morrow.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, is it not a fact that, apart from what the Government are doing in this field, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and, I believe, the British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research are doing most valuable work, and are spending large sums of money provided by the public?

Loan ABERDARE

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. That is quite true. The Cancer Campaign for Research and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund are both devoting considerable sums of money to cancer research; and the encouraging thing is that these two bodies have got together with the Medical Research Council and have recently set up a joint co-ordinating committee to co-ordinate research into cancer.