§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure early publication of figures on the incidence in Wales of leukaemia, lung cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer in each district in Wales in respect of the years 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
§ Mr. GristAs the actual numbers of certain cancer cases registered in a given year may be relatively small and350W subject to chance fluctuations, the publication of annual incidence rates in isolation may lead to misinterpretation. The practice has therefore been to produce several years' registrations with explanatory text. As previously advised, the most recently available information on cancer incidence rates in Wales is presented in "Cancer Registration in Wales, 1974–84", published in 1988.
It is intended that full data in respect of the period 1984 to 1986 together with a commentary will be published during 1990.
The Department is currently reviewing its procedures for collating information on patients who have developed cancer. In particular, the computer system for cancer registrations is being re-examined with a view to improving the speed and accuracy of recording. Subject to the outcome of this review it may be possible to complete the scrutiny of the records for 1987 and 1988 before the end of the year.