§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds the Government are currently spending on medical research for the management, treatment and cure of mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement. [36742]
§ Mr. BoatengThe main agency through which the Government support bio-medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC does not currently support any research specifically on the management, treatment or cure of mesothelioma. However, the MRC does provide support for more basic research in related areas which may provide insights into the aetiology of mesothelioma and have an impact on treatment in the future. For example, the MRC Toxicology Unit at Leicester has been working on projects to better understand the cellular mechanisms by which the lung responds to certain toxic materials. These include many toxins that circulate throughout the body and yet cause selective injury to particular types of lung cell as well as inhaled mineral fibres such as asbestos and zeolites.
In addition, the MRC's Committee on Toxic Hazards in the Environment and Workplace produced a report in 1995 (ISBN 1 899110 03 8) entitled "Natural and man-made mineral fibres: UK research priorities"—this was based on workshops organised by the Institute for Environmental Health. This report considers, inter alia, mesothelioma. It is obtainable from the Institute of Environment and Health, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester LEI 9HN (Phone 0116 252 5530 or Fax 0116 252 5146).
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual cost of treating those suffering from(a) mesothelioma, (b) lung cancer and (c) asbestosis- related illnesses in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [36743]
§ Mr. BoatengInformation about the costs of treatment classified by disease is not routinely collected locally, hence there is no collation of such data centrally. Mesothelioma is incurable with a prognosis of 12–18 months. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 5.5 per cent.; surgery and/or radiotherapy offers the best chance of cure.
People with asbestos-related conditions may live some years, dependent on the type of condition which they have. Patients will require a number of investigations and symptomatic treatment to reduce the symptoms from this irreversible condition. Palliative care is the most significant part of treating both mesothelioma and lung cancer.