§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he plans to commission into the incidence of pre-cancerous skin lesions in England; [174122]
(2) what research his Department has funded into the incidence of skin cancers in England in the last five years. [174123]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department has not funded any specific research into the incidence of skin cancers in England in the last five years, and has no plans to commission specific research into the incidence of pre-cancerous skin lesions in England. Increased incidence in melanoma is due to greater overexposure to sunlight. Since 1997 the Department's policy research programme has spent £1.89 million on research relating to skin cancer, including projects on risk factors, health education and primary prevention.