asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the total amount spent on cancer research during the last period of 12 months for which figures are available; what proportion of the total amount was provided from public funds; and what proportion came from voluntary contributions.

Complete figures for expenditure on cancer research are not available, but the total amount spent by the Medical Research Council and the two major voluntary organisations, the British Empire Cancer Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, in 1959–60 was about £1,541,400. Of this sum 37·6 per cent. was provided from public funds, and 62·4 per cent. from voluntary contributions.