§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of Services if he will give the incidence of adenocarcinoma; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of patients with bladder cancer attending the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, in the 10-year period up to 1975 were (a) possibly entitled to benefit for occupational bladder cancer, prescribed industrial diseases No. 39, and (b) definitely entitled to benefit; and what percentage of each category was awarded such benefits;
(2) what record he has of the number of patients suffering from bladder cancer admitted to all British hospitals, except the Royal Marsden, London, during the period 1965 to 1975; and how many of these received appropriate benefits.
§ Mr. MoyleInformation is not available in the form requested, but the following figures may be helpful to the hon. Member:
(1) Cases in which bladder tumours have been diagnosed and registered under the National Cancer Registration Scheme by the Royal Marsden Hospital:
Year No. of cases 1965 84* 1966 132* 1967 123* 1968 137* 1969 172 1970 171 1971 151 1972 170 1973 169 1974 167 1975 166 * These figures are less reliable than those for the later years. (2) Cases in which bladder tumours have been diagnosed and registered under the National Cancer Registration Scheme by hospitals in Great Britain other than the Royal Marsden Hospital:
Year No. of cases 1965 6,280 1966 5,957 1967 6,379 1968 6,784 1969 6,885 1970 7,412 NOTE. 1970 is the latest year for which full information is available. Some regions have yet to process their information under revised statistical arrangements introduced in 1971.
(3) Cases involving new awards of industrial injuries benefit in Great Britain for prescribed disease number 39 and of benefit under the 112W corresponding provisions of the Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Old Cases) Act 1975:
Year (June to June) Number of new awards 1965–66 24 1966–67 20 1967–68 26 1968–69 15 1969–70 28 1970–71 31 1971–72 27 1972–73 13 1973–74 20 1974–75 18 NOTES. Separate figures for patients of the Royal Marsden Hospital are not available. Figures for awards under the Old Cases Act are not available before October 1969.
Only a small proportion of the population is exposed to the substances listed in relation to prescribed disease No. 39. An International Labour Office publication suggests that in only a very small percentage of cases of bladder cancer, not more than about one per cent. are there grounds for suspecting an occupational factor.