§ Mr. Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the present financial resources devoted to long-term cancer research in Great Britain; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsQuite apart from work financed by other bodies for which I am not responsible, the Medical Research Council is spending £9.4 million a year on projects lasting more than three years. I am satisfied that this, together with support provided by other bodies, is adequate to enable any worthwhile possibility to be pursued.
§ Mr. Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultative and liaison arrangements exist between her Department and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign; and whether she is satisfied with the present situation.
Mrs. Shirley WiliamsSince the Medical Research Council is responsible668W for the funding of cancer research it, and not my Department, is the appropriate body to have contacts with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign. It does so through the Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research. In addition, there is a great deal of common membership on the various councils and advisory boards of all three bodies. I am satisfied with these arrangements.
§ Mr. Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of public funds allocated to cancer or cancer-related research is devoted to grants of less than three years' duration.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsAbout 2 per cent. of the Medical Research Council's expenditure in this field. Expenditure by the health departments in direct support of research in this field cannot be analysed in this way.