HC Deb 07 June 1988 vol 134 c565W
Sir Nicholas Bonsor

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a grant to the cyclotron trust.

Mr. Newton

We are making a grant of £6 million to the cyclotron trust, as a contribution towards the £10.4 million capital cost of the cyclotron which the trust plans to provide in a new facility at St. Thomas' hospital. The cyclotron is used for treating cancers including some which are not normally responsive to conventional radiotherapy and can also enable some patients to avoid disfiguring surgery; 60 per cent. of the cyclotron's capacity will be reserved for NHS patients, and we shall meet up to 60 per cent. of the direct running costs in so far as they are not met from other sources. The project is an important instance of partnership between the public and voluntary sectors.