asked the Minister of Health what percentage of money under his Department's vote is allocated to cancer research.

Cancer research in the National Health Service is carried on in the course of treating patients. It is therefore impossible to estimate the expenditure on it separately.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he agrees that the Government spend very little money generally on cancer research and that most of it comes in voluntary contributions from the British Empire Cancer Campaign and other funds? Would not my right hon. Friend consider a greater allocation from Government sources to this very worth-while research and a possible reduction in spending by other Government Departments, say on the British Council, in order to increase the money available for this purpose?

My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that his Question referred to my Department's Vote. The main Government contribution to this purpose is under the Vote of the Medical Research Council and that has been steadily and rapidly increasing.