§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many reported cases there have been over the periods (a) 1970 to 1975, (b) 1975 to 1980 and (c) 1980 to date of hydatid disease; and, of these, how many required hospitalisation or surgery for treatment.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasHydatid disease is not notifiable and therefore the concept of reported cases is not meaningful. Information on inpatients classified as suffering from hydatid disease is contained in the following table:
(1) (2) Number of inpatients spells Number of those spells contained in col. (1) where surgery was carried out 1972 19 13 1973 18 9 1974 30 15 1975 21 11 1976 19 10 1977 16 13 1978 11 6 1979 23 15 1980 19 9 1981 18 8 1982 17 10
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total grants which his Department makes available on an annual basis for the scientific investigation into, and medical treatment of, hydatid disease.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasOur Department is currently undertaking a pilot programme of work in two areas of south Powys to assess the feasibility of eradicating hydatid disease by repeated dosing of dogs. The estimated costs of this programme are £25,000 in 1983–84, £40,000 in 1984–85 and £70,000 in 1985–86. Financial assistance is also provided through the joint research machinery of the Welsh Office and the Department of Health and Social Security for two projects associated with the pilot programme and covering diagnostic and human aspects of the disease. The funds available for this research are £11,700 in 1983–84, £42,500 in 1984–85, £44,600 in 1985–86 and £8,200 in 1986–87. No specific funds are provided by the Department for the medical treatment of the disease.