HL Deb 07 February 2000 vol 609 cc68-9WA
Lord Clement-Jones

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their current annual per capita spend on cancer treatment and research; and how this compares with other European countries. [HL355]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

Information showing current annual per capita spend on cancer treatment is not available. However, cancer services are estimated to account for 6.3 per cent (£1,479 million) of National Health Service hospital expenditure in England. This excludes cancer services not normally provided on an in-patient basis, for example, cancer screening, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and community palliative care services.

In addition to this, the Department of Health has commissioned work to improve overall NHS information, including national statistics on hospital prescribing, which will give us a more accurate method of recording hospital expenditure on cancer treatment.

It is estimated that United Kingdom expenditure on cancer research is approximately £110 million per annum.

Comparable information is not available for other European countries.

Forward to