§ 90. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the setting up of an independent commission to inquire into the progress, if any, made by the various uses of radium in the cure of cancer.
§ Mr. BevanI do not consider such a commission to be necessary, since the progress of cancer research and treatment is kept continuously under review by the bodies concerned.
§ 91. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Health what has been the percentage of deaths per 1,000 of population of England and Wales from cancer during the past ten years; and if there has been any appreciable reduction in this percentage owing to earlier diagnosis.
§ Mr. BevanThe following are the death rates per 1,000 population in England and Wales from cancer, 1936–1945:
1936 … … … … 1.575 1937 … … … … 1.583 1938 … … … … 1.616 1939 … … … … 1.628 1940 … … … … 1.723 1941 … … … … 1.780 1942 … … … … 1.834 1943 … … … … 1.899 1944 … … … … 1.897 1945 … … … … 1.933 (provisional) The rates for the years 1939 to 1945 relate to civilians only. Although these rates show an increase, my information is that earlier diagnosis is resulting in reduced mortality, which is concealed by the simultaneous increase in ascertainment through better facilities for diagnosis and treatment.