§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the NHS spent on cancer treatment in each year from 2000; and what its planned level of expenditure for 2005 is; [188382]
(2) what the average level of expenditure for each patient diagnosed as suffering from cancer was in the last year for which figures are available. [188386]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFigures on the amount of money spent on an individual disease are not collectedcentrally. It is very difficult to track spending on a particular programme such as cancer, as patients undergo a number of different diagnostic and treatment episodes during their illness.
However, "Securing our Future Health: Taking a Long Term View" published in April 2002 detailed that the National Health Service spends around £2.5 billion a year on cancer services.
The national cancer director published a report in May 2003, detailing that, of the Funding committed to the NHS cancer plan, an additional £199 million was spent in 2001–02 and 406 million was spent in 2002–03. We will shortly be repeating this tracking investment exercise to check whether spending on cancer services in 2003–04 reached the additional £570 million committed to in the NHS cancer plan.
Funding for cancer services in 2005 will be included in baseline money sent to primary care trusts (PCTs). It is for PCTs to decide how to spend that money, based on local circumstances and priorities. From next year, PCTs and strategic health authorities will report within their annual accounts the totality o: their expenditure on a programme basis each year. This will include cancer as one of the categories of spend.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on research into environmental and occupational exposures in relation to cancer in each of the last three years. [188383]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested is not available. However, the National Health Service reported spending £104 million in 2001–02 and £103 million in 2002–03 on research relating to cancer from research and development support funding allocations. 2003–04 returns are currently being processed.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS, working through its National Cancer Research Institute, has set up a strategic planning group to investigate research into exogenous causes of cancer. [188384]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a partnership of the major funders of cancer research including Government, the voluntary sector and industry, together with patient representatives. Its purpose is to ensure a national strategic approach on cancer research. The NCRI has undertaken a strategic analysis of cancer research in the United Kingdom and has established strategic planning groups in areas where there appears to be under-investment. One such area is prevention and risk. This1948W encompasses interventions to prevent cancer caused by known exogenous factors. This group is due to report soon.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many research programmes the NHS is undertaking into the exogenous causes of cancer. [188385]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and works closely with the Health Departments, other Government agencies, the National Health Service and industry.
The majority of funds for research and development in the NHS are allocated to and managed by, NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including many concerned with the exogenous causes of cancer, can be found on the National Research Register website at www.dh.gov.uk/research.