§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the budget of the Medical Research Councilin each of the last 10 years; how much was spent on cancer research; and how
Total parliamentary grant-in-aid Estimated expenditure directly on cancer research United Kingdom subscription to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (£ million) (£ million) (£ million) 1962–63 … … … … 5.859 0.750 — 1963–64 … … … … 7.033 0.957 — 1964–65 … … … … 8.753 1.029 — 1965–66 … … … … 10.088 1.178 0.054 1966–67 … … … … 11.825 1.270 0.054 1967–68 … … … … 13.758 1.433 0.058 1968–69 … … … … 15.230 1.465 0.063 1969–70 … … … … 17.591 1.574 0.063 1970–71 … … … … 21.055 2.166 0.080 1971–72 … … … … 23.469 2.546 0.100* * A special payment of £45,000, towards the cost of equipping the Agency's new building at Lyons was also made in 1971–72. In addition, a considerable amount of fundamental research not directly connected with work on cancer may well be relevant in this field.
A notable part of the research on the connection between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, which has led to the recognition of a relationship of direct cause and effect, has been carried out under MRC auspices. Relevant studies, including investigations into the causes and control of cigarette smoking, are continuing, but it is not possible to isolate the expenditure devoted to this or earlier work.