§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the approximate amount of money spent on cancer research yearly and the proportion of Government grant; and if he is satisfied that cancer research is not hampered by lack of money.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe amount that the Medical Research Council expects to spend specifically on cancer research in 1964–65 is approximately £1,029,000. This does not include capital expenditure. The Government also support cancer research through their financial grant to universities and medical schools through the University Grants Committee; and at hospitals within the National Health Service. In additional a great deal of basic144W research which may well throw light on problems of this disease is supported out of public funds.
Cancer research is also supported by voluntary organisations, notably the British Empire Cancer Campaign, which in 1963 approved the expenditure of £1,314,787 on research and related activities, and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, whose expenditure in 1962–63 on research, related capital expenditure and endowment was £1,232,000.
It is impossible to give a realistic estimate of the total expenditure, but I am assured that the Medical Research Council has not been hampered by lack of funds in the support of proposals which have commended themselves to the Council on scientific grounds.