§ Ms MunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking to improve cancer prevention in England; [145455]
(2) how much money his Department allocates to primary prevention of breast cancer; [145456]
(3) how much his Department spent on primary prevention of breast cancer in 2002–03. [145457]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department funds an extensive health improvement and prevention programme aimed chiefly at preventing cancer and coronary heart disease, which are the two main causes of mortality.
594WHealth improvement and prevention work is also undertaken directly by primary care trusts (PCTs). From April 2003, 75 per cent. of the national health service budget has been devolved directly to PCTs allowing them control of the resources to deliver on both national and local priorities, including cancer.
Funding for programmes on tobacco control and smoking cessation, improving nutrition and diet and increasing levels of physical activity all contribute not only to cancer prevention, but also to preventing coronary heart disease. It is not possible to identify the amounts in these programmes that contribute solely to cancer prevention or to the prevention of any particular form of cancer.