HL Deb 19 May 1998 vol 589 cc164-7WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was spent on research into breast cancer in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1750]

What was spent on research into lung cancer in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1751]

What was spent on research into cervical cancer in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1752]

What was spent on research into prostate cancer in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1753]

What was spent on research into cancer of the bowel in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1754]

What was spent on research into liver cancer in each of the last five years; how much they expect to be spent in the current year; what consideration is being given to increasing spending; and what comparative information they have on spending on this research:

  1. (a) elsewhere in the European Union; and
  2. (b) in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union. [HL1755]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

Identified expenditure on government-funded cancer research in the last five years is given in the table.

£000s
1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Breast cancer 836 4.677 4,132 4,325 4,339
Lung cancer 100 1,162 932 1,154 878
Cervical Cancer 113 498 445 543 460
Prostate cancer 0 8 69 141 47
Bowel cancer 131 719 972 1,497 1,766
Liver cancer 2 16 15 29 0

In addition to the above, a large amount of basic research is being undertaken which underpins this work. For example, in 1996–97 the Medical Research Council (MRC) spent £63.5 million on the study of molecules and cells, £39.8 million on the study of genetics and health and £55.6 million on the study of infections and immunity. The cancer research charities also make a very important contribution to cancer research in the United Kingdom, amounting to some £122 million in 1996–97, as does the pharmaceutical industry. This funding is taken into account when consideration is being given to increasing government expenditure on cancer research.

The MRC is the main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research, receiving its grant-in-aid from my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade. The council is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment. The council is always open to new, sound scientific proposals in competition with other applications. In deciding priorities and taking decisions, the MRC takes account of Department of Health priorities, together with input from the health research community in general.

The National Health Service research and development programme is managed largely through regional offices of the NHS Executive within a national framework. National priorities for research and development are set out on the advice of the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS (CRDC) and expert advisory groups convened under its auspices. A sub-group of CRDC has been established to review the strategic framework which determines the use of the levy and will undertake a review of research into cancer as one of five key areas identified in Our Healthier Nation, a Government Green Paper published in February 1998, copies of which are available in the Library. This review will take account of research funded by the Department of Health, other bodies in the UK and, where known, overseas.

In addition to considering current research applications on ovarian cancer, myeloma and palliation in colorectal cancer, the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Office Department of Health may embark on a Commissioned Research Initiative (CRI) in 1998. Topics have yet to be decided but may include research on early detection of colorectal cancer.

As regards comparative information on spending on this research elsewhere in the European Union and in member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development other than those in the European Union, my officials have made extensive inquiries and have been advised that this information could only be obtained by contacting the scientific attaches at each of the embassies concerned. To do this would incur disproportionate cost.