HC Deb 29 April 1996 vol 276 cc394-5W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future provision for cancer statistics collection and dissemination; what provision will be made to(a) transfer and (b) retrain and upgrade the clerical staff of his Department and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority to the successor statistical collecting service; and what revisions he proposes to published cancer statistics to adjust for incorrectly recorded cancers. [27311]

Mr. Hague

Proposals for the future management of the Wales cancer registry submitted by the Velindre NHS trust and the Welsh Combined Centres for Public Health are currently under consideration. I expect the management of the registry to transfer shortly.

The invitation for proposals to manage the registry set out clear performance targets, including targets for data accuracy, which the successful organisation will be expected to meet. Both Velindre and the combined centres put forward proposals which covered the staffing and staff training necessary to fulfil these performance requirements. It is intended that most of the managerial and operational aspects of the registry, including current managerial, clerical and IT staff, will be transferred to the new organisation. It is not intended that any staff will transfer from my Department to the registry.

The cancer registry revises data where necessary on an on-going basis, and this is reflected in its dissemination and publication of data.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from(a) clinicians and (b) others concerning the future of the Wales cancer registry and the recording of bone and other cancers. [27312]

Mr. Hague

I am aware of having received four representations about the future of the cancer registry, one from a clinician.

In March 1995, officials of my Department met representatives of the Wales Green party to discuss matters related to the recording of cancer data in Wales. In the last two years, I am aware of four other representations about recording of cancers in Wales. One of these was from a clinician.