§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for(a) breast cancer, (b) cervical cancer and (c) cancer of the prostate, (i) the number of cases diagnosed, (ii) the number of recorded cases and (iii) the amount of Government money spent on research in financial year 2003–04. [162435]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe latest available figures of new cases of cancer diagnosed in England are for 2000. In that year a total of 34,045 new cases of breast cancer, 2,424 new cases of cervical, cancer and 23,109 new cases of prostate cancer were recorded.
Figures for government expenditure on research on specific types of cancer are not available. However analysis carried out in 2002 by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), which co-ordinates research activity among government bodies, charities and the pharmaceutical industry, indicates that of the combined spend that was available for analysis, around 40 per cent. was attributable to specific tumour sites. Approximately 18 per cent. was on breast cancer, approximately 4 per cent. on cervical cancer and approximately 8 per cent. on prostate cancer. This does not include national health service research and development support funding.
Prostate cancer is the only cancer that has a Department of Health funding target for research, of £4.2 million a year by the end of 2003–04, and we are on track to achieve this target.