§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors have delayed the availability of information regarding the incidence of oral cancer since 1991 as referred to in his answer of 15 October,Official Report, column 837-38. [2725]
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 7 November 1996]The process of cancer registration in England and Wales is carried out by 11 regional cancer registries, over which the Office for National Statistics has no statutory or managerial control. The process of registration is often very complex and often delayed pending the completion of treatment. ONS can only produce national results once the information is available from all registries. Several have introduced new computer systems and ONS is developing its processes which should help to enable overall figures to be produced more quickly.