§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what has been the change in the rate of incidence of melanomas from 1984 to 1994;
(2) what survey of skin cancer has been conducted through general practitioners; and what consultation he has had about the results with the Association of Dermatologists.
§ Mr. StewartRegistrations of malignant melanomas in Scotland for the years 1993 and 1994 are not yet complete. The most recent 10-year period for which information is available is 1982–92. The incidence rate for men rose from 3.17 per 100,000 in 1982 to 6.2 per 100,000 in 1992. The comparable figures for women were 5.11 per 100,000 and 8.29 per 100,000.
I am not aware of any survey of skin cancer conducted through general practitioners. This is, however, an area of increasing concern which has been brought to GPs' attention by the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Office Home and Health Department. There has been considerable research into the subject by individuals and groups, often with GPs' co-operation, and the Scottish Dermatological Society and the British Association of Dermatologists (UK) are no doubt aware of the results.