HC Deb 12 February 1973 vol 850 cc260-1W
Mr. William Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was spent by the Government on cancer research in 1972; and what were the figures for 1970 and 1971.

Mrs. Thatcher

Figures for calendar years cannot readily be given and single figures of expenditure from public funds are not available. Expenditure in recent years on cancer research by the Medical Research Council, the main Government agency for work in this field, has been:

Financial Year £ million
1969–70 1.574
1970–71 2.166
1971–72 2.546

Further research supported by public funds is carried out under the auspices of the Health Departments, hospital boards, universities and medical schools. In addition, the United Kingdom Government has made an annual subvention to the International Agency for Research on Cancer since its formation in 1965. In recent years this has been, in addition to special contributions for specific purposes:

Financial Year £
1969–70 63,000
1970–71 80,500
1971–72 100,500