HC Deb 28 July 1997 vol 299 cc93-4W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was his Department's total expenditure on publishing the links between exposure to the sun and skin cancer in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11022]

Mr. Boateng

We are able to give figures for total expenditure on skin cancer publicity, including public education, since 1994. Prior to that date, any spending on skin cancer would have been included in general cancer prevention figures and cannot be separately identified.

  • 1994–95: £673,000
  • 1995–96: £783,000
  • 1996–97: £930,000 (including public education campaign)

The Government are aware of the dramatic increase in the incidence of skin cancer during the 1970s and 1980s and are continuing work in raising public awareness of the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun. Our target is to halt the year-on-year increase in the incidence of skin cancer by 2005.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was his Department's expenditure on research into skin cancer in each of the last five years. [11021]

Mr. Boateng

The following amounts were spent on research into skin cancer in the last five years. The table also includes estimated figures for the years 1997–98 to 2000–01.

£000
1992–93 10
1993–94 31
1994–95 85
1995–96 75
1996–97 331
1997–98 1634

£000
1998–99 1784
1999–00 1421
2000–01 150
1Estimates for future years.

In addition, the Department has commissioned surveys on behaviour and attitudes to the sun from the Office for National Statistics to facilitate subsequent targeting of action—£25,000 per year for the last three years.