Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 June 1964.
Sir John Henderson
, Glasgow Cathcart
12:00,
24 June 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many-cases of cancer were notified in Scotland in each of the past five years.
Mr James Stodart
, Edinburgh West
Cancer is not a statutorily notifiable disease. The numbers of deaths from cancer in the last five years, however, were as follows:
Sir John Henderson
, Glasgow Cathcart
Does my hon. Friend realise the great anxiety that there is throughout Scotland at the enormous increase of this dread disease, and can I have an assurance that neither money nor effort will be spared to try to arrest and combat this dreadful disease?
Mr James Stodart
, Edinburgh West
Yes, Sir.
Mr Willie Hamilton
, Fife West
; Can the hon. Gentleman say what steps the Government are taking to step up their campaign against smoking because of the connection between smoking and cancer?
Mr James Stodart
, Edinburgh West
It is a fact that the great increase in the cause of cancer lies in cancer of the lungs. Continuing efforts are being made to improve the methods of earlier diagnosis and treatment, and the Government and local health and education authorities are carrying out a campaign to try to educate the public about the risk involved in smoking.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.