Cancers (Hansard, 17 June 1988)

§ Mr. Foulkes
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures for the incidence of all types of cancers, including leukaemia, for all age groups, broken down to the smallest geographical areas available; and if he will also give the comparable figures for similar periods over the past 10 years.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 9 June 1988]: This information could not be provided except at disproportionate expense.

§ Mr. Foulkes
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the incidence of cancers in babies in Scotland; how this compares with previous years, broken down by area; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 9 June 1988]: The tables set out the information requested, by health board, for registered cases of cancer in children aged less than one year at date of registration over the period 1977 to 1986.
respectively; and what such exercises have revealed concerning the employment of people from ethnic minorities and of women respectively.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The Ministry of Defence, in common with other Government Departments, has been carrying out a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of all non-industrial and industrial staff. The survey of non-industrial staff is being conducted in six phases. To date, three phases have been completed, and of the 339W respondents 1.9 per cent. are from the ethnic minorities. The survey of industrial staff commenced this month and the results are not likely to be available for some time. The ethnic monitoring of recruitment commenced in 1987 and as yet no results are available.
As regards women, there are no specific monitoring exercises currently taking place but records are kept which show the proportion of males and females in each grade. Consideration is being given to ways in which the progress of women and ethnic staff can be effectively monitored.

§ Mr. Janner
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has established an equal opportunities unit; and whether his equal opportunities efforts are coordinated by an equal opportunities officer.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
Yes.